EASA AD No.: 2014-0210

TE.CAP.00110-004 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. 1/2

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2014-0210

Date: 19 September 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):

RB211-524 engines

TCDS Number: United Kingdom No. 1043

Foreign AD: Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 72

Engine – Low Pressure Turbine Stage 3 Blades – Replacement

(Life Limitation)

Manufacturer(s): Rolls-Royce plc

Applicability: RB211-524B-02, RB211-524B-B-02, RB211-524B2-19, RB211-524B2-B-19, 

RB211-524B3-02, RB211-524C2-19 and RB211-524C2-B-19 engines, all serial 

numbers.

These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 747

series and Lockheed Martin Corporation L-1011 (TriStar) series aeroplanes.

Reason: Since 2006, a number of low pressure turbine (LPT) Stage 3 blade failures

have been reported, each resulting in engine in-flight shut-down. Engineering 

analysis on those occurrences indicates that blades with an accumulated life of 

11 000 flight cycles (FC) or more have an increased risk of failure.

This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to release of LPT 

Stage 3 blade debris and consequent (partial or complete) loss of engine 

power, possibly resulting in reduced control of the aeroplane. 

To address this potentially unsafe condition, RR issued Alert Non-Modification 

Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-AH790 to introduce a life limit for certain 

LPT Stage 3 blades.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires implementation of the

reduced life limit and replacement of the affected LPT Stage 3 blades that have 

already reached or exceeded 11 000 FC since new.

Effective Date: 03 October 2014
EASA AD No.: 2014-0210

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Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

Note: Where, in this AD, reference is made to an RR Mod, 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) Before each affected LPT Stage 3 blade exceeds 11 000 FC since new, or 

within 200 flight cycles (FC) after the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs later, replace each LPT Stage 3 blade Part Number (P/N) LK55386, 

P/N LK86483 or P/N LK86503, as applicable, with a serviceable part in 

accordance with the instructions of RR NMSB RB.211-72-AH790.

(2) If, for any affected LPT blade, the accumulated FC cannot be determined,

within 200 FC after the effective date of this AD, replace the blade with a 

serviceable part in accordance with the instructions of RR NMSB

RB.211-72-AH790.

(3) From the effective date of this AD, except as required by paragraphs (1) 

and (2) of this AD, before each LPT Stage 3 blade P/N LK55386, P/N 

LK86483 or P/N LK86503 exceeds 11 000 FC since new, replace each 

blade with a serviceable part.

(4) From the effective date of this AD, do not install any LPT Stage 3 blade 

having P/N LK55386, P/N LK86483 or P/N LK86503 on an engine, unless 

it is determined that the affected blade has accumulated less than 11 000 

FC since new.

Ref. Publications: Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-AH790 original issue dated 16 September 2014.

The use of later approved revisions of this document 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. Based on the required actions and the compliance time, EASA have 

decided to issue a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the 

public consultation process until after publication.

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

Section, Certification 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 from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp

identifying the correspondence as being related to airworthiness 

directives.