EASA AD No.: 2009-0253 

EASA Form 110 Page 1/3 

EASA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 

AD No.: 2009-0253 

Date: 30 November 2009 

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 Airworthiness Directive applies, except in accordance with the requirements of that Airworthiness Directive 

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]. 

Type Approval Holder’s Name : 

ROLLS-ROYCE PLC 

Type/Model designation(s) : 

RB211-524 Series Engines 

TCDS Number : UK-CAA TCDS No.s 1043, 1046 and 1048

Foreign AD : N/A 

Supersedure : This AD supersedes AD No. 2009-0089 dated 16 April 2009 

ATA 78 Engine – Thrust Reverser Unit (TRU) – Replacement of Damaged 

Rivets on Thrust Reverser Fixed Structure 

Manufacturer(s): Rolls-Royce plc 

Applicability: RB211-524D4-19, -524D4-B-19,-524D4-39, -524D4-B-39, -524D4X-19, -

524D4X-B-19, -524H-36, -524H2-19, -524H-T-36, -524H2-T-19, -524G2-19, 

-524G3-19, -524G2-T-19 and –524G3-T-19 engines, all serial numbers, if 

equipped with a Thrust Reverser having a part number as identified in RollsRoyce RB211 Propulsion Systems Non-Modification Service Bulletin 

(NMSB) No. 78-AG084 Revision 3. 

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

Boeing 767 series aircraft. 

Reason: An investigation into the loss of a TRU during landing has revealed that this 

incident was preceded by the detachment of the TRUs fixed structure front 

ring rivet lines on the rear flange. It was concluded that the loss of rivet lines 

was directly associated with a previous translating cowl gearbox stubshaft 

fracture and the subsequent repair of the fixed structure to Engine Manual 

repair No. FRS5887. This repair instructs the replacement of the damaged 

section of the structure but does not require the rivets adjacent to the repair 

to be replaced although latest analysis has shown that the rivets may have 

weakened as a result of a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft failure. 

Loss of a TRU during landing may release a significant amount of debris and 

this may adversely affect the safety of flight operations. Thus, the loss of a 
EASA AD No.: 2009-0253 

EASA Form 110 Page 2/3 

TRU constitutes a potentially unsafe condition. 

EASA AD No. 2009-0089 was issued to instruct replacement of potentially 

yielded rivets from TRUs in service in order to prevent a further TRU loss. 

Further engineering evaluation carried out by Rolls-Royce concluded that the 

Compliance Times required by this AD can be partially extended. 

This AD supersedes AD No. 2009-0089 and is issued in order to extend the 

applicability of the Required Actions contained in AD No. 2009-0089 to 

RB211-524D4X-19 engines and also to partially extend the Compliance 

Times originally required by AD No. 2009-0089. This AD includes additional 

compliance criteria with respect to an earlier translating cowl gearbox 

stubshaft failure in order to enable operators to further limit the population of 

potentially affected engines.

Effective Date: 14 December 2009 

Required Action(s) 

and Compliance 

Time(s): 

1. If a TRU has previously had Engine Manual repair No. FRS5887 and 

either Engine Manual repair No. FRS4976 or Engine Manual repair No. 

FRS6669 embodied jointly as a result of a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft 

failure 

and 

the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of RollsRoyce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 Revision 3 

or earlier approved revisions have not been carried out yet, 

carry out the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of 

Rolls-Royce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 

Revision 3 or later approved revisions before 31st March 2010. 

Important Note: 

Unless unambiguous documented evidence exists to demonstrate otherwise, 

a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft failure should be assumed. 

2. If a TRU has previously had 

Engine Manual repair No. FRS4976 embodied as a result of a translating 

cowl gearbox stubshaft failure 

or 

Engine Manual repair No. FRS6669 embodied as a result of a translating 

cowl gearbox stubshaft failure 

and 

it is not known whether this was performed jointly with Engine Manual repair 

No. FRS5887 

and 

the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of RollsRoyce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 Revision 3 

or earlier approved revisions have not been carried out yet, 

carry out the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of 

Rolls-Royce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 

Revision 3 or later approved revisions before 31st March 2010. 

Important Note: Unless unambiguous documented evidence exists to 

demonstrate otherwise, a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft failure should 

be assumed. 

3. If a TRU has previously had only Engine Manual repair No. FRS5887 

embodied as a result of a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft failure 

and 

the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of Rolls-
EASA AD No.: 2009-0253 

EASA Form 110 Page 3/3 

Royce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 Revision 3 

or earlier approved revisions have not been carried out yet, 

carry out the actions specified in Section 3. Accomplishment Instructions of 

Rolls-Royce Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 78-AG084 

Revision 3 or later approved revision before 31st December 2012. 

Important Note: Unless unambiguous documented evidence exists to 

demonstrate otherwise, a translating cowl gearbox stubshaft failure should 

be assumed.

Ref. Publications: Rolls-Royce RB211 Propulsion System Non-Modification Service Bulletin 

(NMSB) No. 78-AG084, Revision 3 

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. The required actions and the risk allowance have granted the issuance 

of a Final AD with Request for Comments, postponing the public 

consultation process after publication. 

3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the Airworthiness 

Directives, Safety Management & Research 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: 

Rolls-Royce plc., P.O. Box 31, Derby, DE24 8BJ, United Kingdom 

Telephone: +44 (0) 1332 242424, Fax: +44 (0) 1332 249936, 

E-mail: tech.help@rolls-royce.com or download the publication from 

https://www.aeromanager.com