EASA AD No.: 2014-0031

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2014-0031

Date: 04 February 2014

Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation 

(EC) No 216/2008 on behalf of the European Community, its Member States and of the 

European third countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 66 of that 

Regulation.

This AD is issued in accordance with EU 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with EC 2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.301, the 

continuing airworthiness of an aircraft shall be ensured by accomplishing any applicable ADs. Consequently, no person may operate an 

aircraft to which an AD applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that AD, unless otherwise specified by the Agency [EC 

2042/2003 Annex I, Part M.A.303] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry [EC 216/2008, Article 14(4) exemption].

Design Approval Holder’s Name:

ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Type/Model designation(s):

RB211 Trent 700 engines

TCDS Number: EASA.E.042

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: This AD supersedes EASA AD 2013-0060 dated 11 March 2013.

ATA 72 Engine – Low Pressure Compressor Blades – Inspection / 

Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Rolls-Royce plc (RR)

Applicability: RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60 and 772C-60 engines, all serial 

numbers.

These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A330 

aeroplanes.

Reason: Low Pressure (LP) compressor partial aerofoil blade release events occurred in 

service on RR Trent 700 engines. While primary containment of the released 

sections was achieved in each case, some of the releases did exhibit 

secondary effects that are considered to present a potential hazard. Previously, 

expeditious actions by RR mitigated the risks presented by these effects, by 

removal from service of batches of LP compressor blades. However, some 

causal factors still exist that are not fully understood.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to LP compressor 

blade release with possible consequent loss of the engine nose cowl, under 

cowl fires and forward projection of secondary debris, possibly resulting in 

damage to the aeroplane and/or injury to persons on the ground.

To address this potential unsafe condition, EASA issued AD 2012-0247 to 

require a one-time inspection of the higher life LP compressor blades.

After identification of a population of these LP compressor blades that were

incorrectly inspected, EASA issued AD 2013-0060, superseding AD 2012-0247, 

to require re-inspection of the affected blades.

Since EASA AD 2013-0060 was issued, to mitigate the risk of further partial fan 

blade release events, RR issued Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) 
EASA AD No.: 2014-0031

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RB.211-72-AH465, providing instructions for a programme of repetitive

ultrasonic inspections of the affected LP compressor blades to detect subsurface anomalies in the aerofoil.

For the reasons described above, this AD supersedes EASA AD 2013-0060

and requires repetitive inspections of all affected LP compressor blades and, 

depending on findings, replacement.

Effective Date: 18 February 2014

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Note: Where in this AD, reference is made to an RR SB or NMSB with an ‘A’ 

(Alert) in the number, it should be recognised that an earlier or later revision 

may not have that ‘A’. This kind of change does not effectively alter the 

publication references for the purpose of this AD.

(1) For LP Compressor blades Part Number (P/N) FK23411, P/N FK25441,

P/N FK25968, P/N FW11901, P/N FW15393, P/N FW23643, P/N 

FW23741, P/N FW23744, P/N KH23403 and P/N KH23404, before 

exceeding 3 600 FC since new and, thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 

2 400 FC, accomplish an ultrasonic inspection of each LP compressor 

blade in accordance with the instructions of Section 3 of RR NMSB 

RB.211-72-AH465.

 LP compressor blade ultrasonic inspections accomplished in accordance 

with the instructions referenced in the mandatory inspection section of the 

applicable engine Time Limits Manual (TLM) T-Trent-1RR are acceptable 

to comply with the inspection requirements of paragraph (1) of this AD.

(2) LP compressor blade ultrasonic inspections, accomplished before the 

effective date of this AD in accordance with the instructions of Rolls-Royce 

NMSB RB.211-72-G702, or NMSB RB.211-72-G872, or NMSB RB.211-72-

H311, or Engine Manual (EM) E-Trent-1RR, Task 72-31-11-200-806, are 

acceptable to comply with the inspection requirements of paragraph (1) of 

this AD.

(3) For any blade that, on the effective date of this AD, has already exceeded 

2 200 FC since last inspection, the next inspection must be accomplished 

before exceeding 3 000 FC since the last inspection. Thereafter, repetitive 

inspections must be accomplished as required by paragraph (1) of this AD.

(4) If, during any inspection as required by paragraph (1) or (3) of this AD, a 

LP Compressor blade fails the ultrasonic inspection, before next flight, or 

before release to service of the engine, as applicable, replace the affected 

blade with a serviceable one.

(5) From the effective date of this AD, installation on an engine of a 

replacement LP compressor blade having P/N FK23411, P/N FK25441, 

P/N FK25968, P/N FW11901, P/N FW15393, P/N FW23643, P/N 

FW23741, P/N FW23744, P/N KH23403 or P/N KH23404, that has

accumulated or exceeded 3 600 FC since new, or 2 400 FC since 

inspection in accordance with RR NMSB RB.211-72-AH465, or since an

inspection as specified in paragraph (2) of this AD, whichever occurred 

later, is allowed, provided that, prior to installation, the replacement LP 

compressor blade has passed the ultrasonic inspection in accordance with 

the instructions of Section 3 of RR NMSB RB.211-72-AH465.

Ref. Publications: Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-G702 dated 23 May 2011.

Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-G872 dated 2 April 2012, or Revision 1

dated 2 July 2012, or Revision 2 dated 08 March 2013.

Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-H311 dated 08 March 2013.

Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-AH465 dated 15 July 2013.
EASA AD No.: 2014-0031

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RR Trent 700 EM E-Trent-1RR.

RR Trent 700 TLM T-Trent-1RR.

The use of later approved revisions of these documents is acceptable for 

compliance with the requirements of this AD.

Remarks: 1. If requested and appropriately substantiated, EASA can approve 

Alternative Methods of Compliance for this AD.

2. This AD was posted on 19 November 2013 as PAD 13-170 for consultation 

until 17 December 2013. The Comment Response Document can be found 

at http://ad.easa.europa.eu.

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Safety Information 

Section, Executive Directorate, EASA. E-mail: ADs@easa.europa.eu.

4. For any question concerning the technical content of the requirements in 

this AD, please contact your designated Rolls-Royce representative, or 

download the publication from your Aeromanager account at

www.aeromanager.com.

If you do not have a designated representative or Aeromanager account, 

please contact Corporate Communications at Rolls-Royce plc,

P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1332 242424, or

send an email through http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp

identifying the correspondence as being related to Airworthiness 

Directives.