EASA AD US-2019-05-07
Engine - Compressor Fan Disks - Removal / Replacement
Summary
The Federal Register document titled "Engine - Compressor Fan Disks - Removal / Replacement" is a final rule Airworthiness Directive (AD 2019-05-07) issued by the FAA affecting certain Honeywell International Inc. TFE731 turbofan engines, specifically models TFE731-20R, -20AR, -20BR, -40AR, -40BR, and -40R. It addresses unsafe conditions related to fan disks with surface rollovers in the dovetail slot area. The AD mandates removal and replacement of affected fan disks to ensure continued airworthiness.
What Changed
This AD supersedes AD 2017-20-01 by removing the Honeywell TFE731-20 engine model from applicability and adding additional TFE731 engine variants to the applicability. It also clarifies the marking location for eligible fan disks and updates installation prohibitions to apply only to engines with affected parts installed. These changes correct omissions and improve technical accuracy without increasing the regulatory burden.
Why It Matters
This AD is critical for aviation professionals because it prevents potential engine failures caused by compromised fan disks, which could lead to unsafe flight conditions. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to avoid installation of affected parts and maintain engine reliability. The directive helps maintain fleet safety and regulatory compliance by addressing a known manufacturing defect.
What To Do
Affected operators must remove the identified fan disks and replace them with parts eligible for installation by April 25, 2019. They should verify fan disk part and serial numbers against Honeywell Service Bulletin TFE731-72-5256 and ensure no installation of non-compliant fan disks marked without "T43374" adjacent to the fan disk part or serial number. Inspections and replacements should follow the procedures outlined in the service bulletin.
Your fleet's weekly compliance brief
AI-summarized regulatory changes, compliance deadlines, and action items — filtered to your aircraft, every Monday.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.