EASA AD US-2022-02-05
Engine - High Pressure Turbine Stage 1/2 Disks - Replacement
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airworthiness Directive 2022-02-05 addresses certain Pratt & Whitney PW1500G and PW1900G model turbofan engines installed on aircraft such as the Airbus A321-231. This directive mandates the removal and replacement of specific high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage and 2nd-stage disks due to a risk of uncontained disk failure. The directive aims to prevent engine damage and potential loss of the airplane caused by high-energy debris from disk failures.
What Changed
This new airworthiness directive introduces mandatory removal from service and replacement of affected HPT 1st-stage and 2nd-stage disks on PW1500G and PW1900G engines. It expands on previous FAA actions related to similar failures in International Aero Engines V2533-A5 engines by identifying a new population of disks with subsurface material defects. The directive requires compliance within 30 days of its effective date to mitigate the identified unsafe condition.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a severe safety risk involving uncontained turbine disk failures that can cause significant engine and airframe damage. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure timely compliance to maintain airworthiness and prevent potential catastrophic engine events. Compliance teams need to update maintenance programs and track affected parts to avoid operational disruptions and regulatory penalties.
What To Do
Affected operators must remove and replace the specified HPT 1st-stage and 2nd-stage disks on PW1500G and PW1900G engines within 30 days from the directive's effective date of January 27, 2022. Maintenance personnel should follow Pratt & Whitney Special Instructions No. 225F-21 and 226F-21 for proper removal and installation procedures. Additionally, stakeholders are invited to submit comments on the directive by February 28, 2022.
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