EASA AD No: 2012-0145

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EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

AD No.: 2012-0145

Date: 06 August 2012

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 EC 1702/2003, Part 21A.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 900 engines

TCDS Number : EASA.E.012

Foreign AD : Not applicable

Supersedure: None

ATA 72 Engine – Low Pressure Turbine Shaft and Bearing Housing End 

Cover – Inspection / Replacement

Manufacturer(s): Rolls-Royce plc

Applicability: RB211 Trent 970-84, 970B-84, 972-84, 972B-84, 977-84, 977B-84 and 980-84 

engines, all serial numbers.

These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A380 

aeroplanes.

Reason: During a revenue service flight, a Trent 900 engine experienced a high 

Intermediate Pressure (IP/N2) vibration fault along with several other 

fluctuating engine parameters, including Low Pressure (LP/N1) faults. The 

flight crew decided to throttle back the engine to idle and performed an air turn 

back. The other engines continued to operate normally and an uneventful 

landing was made.

The results of an initial investigation revealed that the LP system was seized. 

Removal of the Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) bearing housing end cover

revealed that the oil transfer tube assembly had fractured because the 

spherical seat between the oil transfer tube and the end cover was missing 

(not installed).

This non-conformity caused the fracture of the oil transfer tube, leading to 

reduced oil flow and subsequent damage to the LP and IP bearings. RollsRoyce has identified that other Trent 900 engines could potentially be affected.

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

damage which could result in uncontained engine failure and subsequent 
EASA AD No: 2012-0145

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damage to the aeroplane.

For the reasons described above, this AD requires an inspection for the 

presence of the spherical seat plate between the oil transfer tube and the LPT 

bearing housing end cover and, depending on findings, replacement of the 

LPT shaft and bearing housing end cover.

Effective Date: 13 August 2012

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance

Time(s):

Required as indicated, unless accomplished previously:

(1) Within the compliance time specified in Table 1 of this AD, as 

applicable, inspect the LPT shaft and bearing housing end cover 

assembly Part Number (P/N) FW22780 for conformity and presence of 

the spherical seat (P/N CU38971) in accordance with the instructions of 

paragraph 3 of Rolls-Royce Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin 

(NMSB) RB.211-72-AH051, or NMSB RB.211-72-H056, as applicable to 

engine s/n.

Table 1

Affected engines, on the 

effective date of this AD

Compliance time

Engine s/n listed in 

paragraph 1.A of Alert 

NMSB RB.211-72-AH051

and installed on an 

aeroplane

within 20 engine cycles after 

the effective date of this AD

Engine s/n listed in 

paragraph 1.A of NMSB 

RB.211-72-H056 and 

installed on an aeroplane

within 200 engine cycles after 

the effective date of this AD

All engines in shop before release to service of 

the engine

(2) If, during the inspection as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, a 

discrepancy is found, before next flight, replace the LPT shaft and 

bearing housing end cover assembly P/N FW22780 with a serviceable 

part in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 3 of Rolls-Royce 

Alert NMSB 72-AH051, or NMSB RB.211-72-AH056, as applicable to 

engine s/n.

(3) Inspections and replacements accomplished before the effective date of 

this AD, in accordance with the instructions of Rolls-Royce Technical 

Variance TV125436, are acceptable for compliance with the 

requirements paragraphs (1) and (2) of this AD.

(4) From the effective date of this AD, do not install a LPT bearing housing 

end cover assembly P/N FW22780 on an engine, or an engine with a 

LPT bearing housing end cover assembly P/N FW22780 installed on an 

aeroplane, unless it has been determined that the assembly is conform 

and the spherical seat P/N CU38971 is installed in that LPT bearing 

housing end cover assembly.

Ref. Publications: Rolls-Royce Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AH051 initial issue dated 03 August 2012.

Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-H056 initial issue dated 03 August 2012

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

compliance with the requirements of this AD.
EASA AD No: 2012-0145

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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, 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, The United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1332 242424, or

email from http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp identifying the 

correspondence as being related to Airworthiness Directives.