EASA AD 2018-0088
Engine — Upper Bifurcation Fairing Seal Face — Inspection / Modification
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2018-0088 is an airworthiness directive addressing the inspection and modification of the upper bifurcation fairing seal face on Rolls-Royce RB211 Trent 800 series engines, commonly installed on Boeing 777 aircraft. The directive mandates inspections and corrective actions to prevent cracking and material release that could compromise the engine firewall and fire suppression systems.
What Changed
This directive supersedes EASA AD 2016-0084 and introduces a new mandatory modification (mod 72-J803) to the upper bifurcation nose fairing assembly, which includes an additional support bracket. This modification eliminates the need for repetitive inspections previously required, providing a terminating action for those inspections.
Why It Matters
The condition addressed by this directive poses a risk of engine firewall breach, potentially delaying or preventing fire detection and suppression, which could lead to uncontrolled engine fires and damage to the aircraft. Compliance ensures continued airworthiness and safety by maintaining the integrity of the engine fire zone firewall, critical for operators and maintenance organizations.
What To Do
Operators must perform repetitive inspections of the upper bifurcation fairing at intervals not exceeding 7,500 engine flight hours until the engine is modified during the next qualified shop visit after 2 May 2018. Any discrepancies found during inspections must be corrected promptly according to the Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AJ165. The modification SB RB211-72-J803 must be applied to terminate the inspection requirements.
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