EASA AD 2021-0146R1
Time Limits / Maintenance Checks — High Pressure Turbine Disc — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0146R1 is a regulatory document addressing inspection requirements for high-pressure turbine (HPT) discs installed on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and Trent 7000 engines, commonly found on Boeing 787 and Airbus A330 (NEO) aircraft. The directive mandates a one-time inspection of affected HPT discs during the next qualified engine shop visit to ensure they are disassembled to piece-part level and inspected according to the applicable Rolls-Royce Time Limits Manual (TLM) tasks. This AD aims to prevent potential HPT disc failures that could lead to high-energy debris release and consequent aircraft damage.
What Changed
This revision corrects certain TLM sub-task numbers from the original EASA AD 2021-0146 issued on 25 June 2021. It maintains the original requirement for a one-time inspection of affected HPT discs and clarifies inspection procedures. The AD remains an interim action pending further regulatory updates.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a safety risk where HPT discs may not have been properly inspected during engine shop visits due to ambiguous maintenance instructions. Ensuring compliance prevents potential engine failures and enhances aircraft safety. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must verify that affected engines undergo the mandated inspections to maintain airworthiness.
What To Do
Operators must perform a one-time disassembly and inspection of affected HPT discs to piece-part level during the next qualified engine shop visit after 25 June 2021. If any defects exceeding acceptance criteria are found, the affected part must be replaced before engine release. Additionally, installation of affected parts on any engine is only permitted if the part has passed the required inspection.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.