EASA SIB AV-2008-04: Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 series engines - Uncontained Impeller Failures

What to do

Operators and maintenance providers must comply with Transport Canada AD CF-2003-17 and perform borescope inspections as outlined in Pratt & Whitney Canada's Service Bulletin 7590. Inspections should occur at the next shop visit or within 250 cycles for impellers with 5000 or more cycles. Any impeller failing to meet acceptance criteria must be repaired or replaced before further operation. Compliance must be recorded in engine logbooks and inspection results reported to Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Summary

Transport Canada Civil Aviation Service Difficulty Advisory AV-2008-04 addresses uncontained impeller failures in Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 series engines. The advisory highlights surface irregularities on the rear face of impellers, specifically part number 3020365, which have caused cracks leading to impeller fractures and fuselage penetration. It references related airworthiness directives issued by Transport Canada and the FAA that mandate inspections and repairs.

What changed

This advisory emphasizes the need for detailed borescope inspections of impellers during engine overhauls or within 250 cycles for engines with impellers having 5000 or more total cycles since new. Pratt & Whitney Canada revised the engine overhaul manual to include these inspection criteria and issued Service Bulletin 7590 to guide operators. The advisory also reminds operators to provide inspection feedback to Pratt & Whitney Canada as required by the service bulletin.

Why it matters

Uncontained impeller failures pose significant safety risks including potential aircraft fuselage penetration by high-energy fragments. Compliance with the inspection requirements helps prevent catastrophic engine failures and ensures continued airworthiness. Operators, maintenance organizations, and overhaul facilities must be vigilant in detecting cracks early to avoid in-flight incidents and costly repairs.