Revision of the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA)
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
- Replaces
- 2012-04-15
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators must revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness and, for air carriers, update their continuous airworthiness maintenance programs within 30 days of the effective date. Compliance involves incorporating the updated inspection requirements specified in the directive to prevent unsafe engine conditions. Stakeholders should also monitor for any approved alternative methods of compliance if needed.
Summary
Revision of the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) is a final rule issued by the FAA that supersedes Airworthiness Directive 2012-04-15. It applies to all Pratt & Whitney JT9D model turbofan engines, including models JT9D-3A through JT9D-70A. The directive mandates updates to inspection requirements for critical life-limited engine parts to enhance safety and prevent engine failures.
What changed
This revision updates the required inspections of selected critical life-limited parts in the ALS of the manufacturer's ICA and the continuous airworthiness air carrier maintenance program (CAMP). It adds missing inspection requirements such as eddy current inspections of fan hubs and removes duplicate inspections previously listed. The directive also clarifies engine model references in the inspection figures without increasing operator burden.
Why it matters
This directive is crucial for aviation professionals as it addresses unsafe conditions that could lead to uncontained engine part failures, potentially causing damage to aircraft and risking safety. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure updated inspection protocols are integrated into maintenance programs to maintain airworthiness and regulatory compliance. It reduces risk by correcting previous inspection omissions and redundancies.
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