Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-21338 · --turbine section
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines
This AD applies to Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60, and 772C-60 model turbofan engines with an engine serial number (ESN) identified in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix 1 of Rolls-Royce (RR) RB211 Trent 700 Series Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin RB.211-72-AK165, dated November 26, 2018 (the NMSB).
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60 and 772C-60 model turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement of high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades with parts eligible for installation before exceeding specified flight cycles since new. This AD was prompted by several reports from the manufacturer that HPT blades on RB211 Trent 700 model turbofan engines have been subject to high levels of corrosion fatigue, leading to blade cracking and eventual release, resulting in an aborted take-off and in-flight shut- downs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
(1) For engines with an ESN listed in Table 1 of Appendix 1 of the NMSB, prior to each HPT blade accumulating 3,500 flight cycles since new, or before further flight after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, remove the HPT blade from service and replace with a part eligible for installation.
(2) For engines with an ESN listed in Table 2 of Appendix 1 of the NMSB, prior to each HPT blade accumulating 5,800 flight cycles since new, or before further flight after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, remove the HPT blade from service and replace with a part eligible for installation.
(3) If the flight cycles since new of an HPT blade are unable to be determined, use the flight cycles since new, flight cycles since refurbishment, or flight cycles since overhaul of the HPT module.
For the purpose of this AD, “a part eligible for installation” is:
(1) An HPT blade that has:
(i) Been removed from an engine with a serial number listed in Table 1 of the NMSB; and
(ii) not exceeded 3,500 flight cycles since new; and
(iii) before installation, passed an inspection (no crack detected) in accordance with Task 72-41-52-200-800—General Data for the Inspection of the High Pressure (HP) Turbine Blades, dated June 10, 2011, from the (Rolls-Royce) RR Trent-768-60/15 Engine Manual (RR Task 72-41-52-200-800); or
(2) An HPT blade that has:
(i) Been removed from an engine with a serial number listed in Table 2 of the NMSB; and
(ii) not exceeded 5,800 flight cycles since new; and
(iii) before installation, passed an inspection (no crack detected) in accordance with Task 72-41-52-200-800—General Data for the Inspection of the High Pressure (HP) Turbine Blades, dated June 10, 2011, from the RR Trent-768-60/15 Engine Manual (RR Task 72-41-52-200-800); or
(3) An HPT blade with zero flight cycles since new.
The reporting requirements specified in paragraph R. of RR Task 72-41-52-200-800 are not required by this AD.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
