Superseded by FAA AD 2022-06-09
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators of affected Pratt & Whitney engines must perform an initial thermal acoustic imaging inspection of the 1st-stage LPC blades at the next engine separation at the M-flange or before the blades reach 7,000 cycles since new, whichever occurs first. Repetitive inspections are required thereafter as specified in the service bulletin. Blades that fail inspection must be removed and replaced promptly. The AD became effective on March 22, 2019.
Summary
FAA Airworthiness Directive 2019-03-01 is a final rule addressing certain Pratt & Whitney PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines equipped with specific 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades. The directive mandates thermal acoustic imaging inspections to detect cracks and requires removal of blades that fail inspection to prevent unsafe conditions. This AD aims to enhance safety by preventing uncontained blade failures that could damage the engine and aircraft.
What changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory initial and repetitive thermal acoustic imaging inspections for specified 1st-stage LPC blades on affected Pratt & Whitney engines. It also removes blades found with cracks during inspections and eliminates the previously proposed installation prohibition paragraph. The directive incorporates credit for earlier revisions of the Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin for compliance.
Why it matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals as it addresses a known unsafe condition involving in-flight failure of LPC blades, which can lead to severe engine and aircraft damage. Operators and maintenance organizations must implement the inspection requirements to ensure continued airworthiness and compliance with FAA regulations. Failure to comply could result in uncontained engine failures and compromise flight safety.
More for Pratt & Whitney PW4070
All 9- EASA AD US-2026-17-08Turbine - High-Pressure Compressor Drum Rotor Disk - Inspection / ReplacementSep 8, 2026
- EASA AD US-2023-22-02Engine - Combustion Section Outer Diffuser Case - Inspection / RemovalNov 22, 2023
- EASA AD US-2023-19-02Low Pressure Compressor Fan Hub - Inspection / ReplacementOct 13, 2023
- EASA AD US-2022-07-13Engine Oil - Air/Oil Heat Exchanger - Inspection / ReplacementApr 20, 2022
- EASA AD US-2022-06-09Engine - 1st-Stage Low-Pressure Compressor Blades - Inspection / Removal
Get the next one by email
New ADs and bulletins for Pratt & Whitney PW4070, & Whitney PW4080 and & Whitney PW4090, summarized like this page, every Monday.