EASA AD 2025-0266
Engine — High Pressure Turbine Blades — Inspection
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2025-0266 is an airworthiness directive addressing inspection requirements for high pressure turbine (HPT) blades, part number KH64485, installed on Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-72 and Trent 7000-72C engines, commonly found on Airbus A330 (NEO) aircraft. The directive mandates on-wing borescope inspections to detect axial cracking and specifies corrective actions including engine removal and blade replacement if cracks exceed defined limits. It applies to engines except those modified with mod 72-K336, which introduces redesigned blades not affected by this unsafe condition.
What Changed
EASA AD 2025-0266 supersedes EASA AD 2025-0021R1 and removes the previously imposed reduced life limit on affected HPT blades. It introduces improved inspection instructions, revised allowable crack sizes, and updated corrective actions with new compliance times. The directive also excludes engines modified with mod 72-K336 from the inspection requirements.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals to prevent potential engine in-flight shutdowns caused by undetected cracking in high pressure turbine blades. Operators and maintenance organizations must comply to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of affected engines. The updated inspection criteria and removal of the reduced life limit provide clearer guidance and potentially extend blade service life while maintaining safety.
What To Do
Operators must perform initial and repetitive on-wing borescope inspections of affected HPT blades before exceeding specified flight cycle thresholds, with follow-on inspections at intervals not exceeding 50 flight cycles. If cracks exceed defined lengths, engines must be removed from service and blades replaced before further flight. Modification of engines with mod 72-K336 is a terminating action for these inspections. Compliance deadlines are detailed in Tables 1, 2, and 3 of the directive, with the effective date being 12 December 2025.