ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

January 2015 9 Pages 72-A408

Page 1

Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

1. PLANNING INFORMATION

A. Effectivity

(1) Engines affected: All installed and uninstalled Viper 

Mk.521 engines

(2) Assemblies affected: All Group A components as detailed 

in Table 1.

B. Reason

A review of Group A Lifing by Rolls-Royce plc has resulted 

in reduced Flight Cycle Lives for the components listed in 

Table 1.

Group A lives for these components that are presently 

documented in the Viper Mk.521 Overhaul Manual are 

unsupported.

Performance : Not affected

Reliability : Improved

Maintenance : Not affected

Overhaul : Affected

Repair Schemes : Not affected

Interchangeability : Not affected
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

72-A408 January 2015

Page 2 Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

C. Description

(1) This ALERT Service Bulletin instructs operators to 

implement the revised supported cleared lives in 

flight cycles for the following components detailed in 

Table 1.

Table 1 - Revised Group A Component Lives

Item Part No.

Present 

cleared cyclic 

life (flights) 

Ref Time 

Limits Chapter 

5-10-01 of 

Overhaul 

Manual dated 

Feb 2013

Revised 

Cleared 

Cyclic 

Life 

(flights)

Remarks

Compressor 

Rotor Discs

Zero stage V27415

V56418

18900

18900

5623

5623

1st stage V27418

V900633

V901351

7030

13000

13000

1525

11600

11600

2nd stage V27421

V41178

V901360

11475

11475

11475

2867

11475

11475

3rd stage V22424

V27424

V41180

V901361

14075

14075

14075

14075

2452

2452

12160

12160

4th stage V25191

V27427

V901362

14075

14075

14075

2891

12160

12160

5th stage V27430

V42057

V901363

12600

12600

12600

2074

10480

10480
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

January 2015 72-A408

Page 3

Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

Table 1 - Revised Group A Component Lives (cont.)

Item Part No.

Present 

cleared 

cyclic life 

(flights) 

Ref Time 

Limits 

Chapter 5-

10-01 of 

Overhaul 

Manual dated 

Feb 2013

Revised 

Cleared 

Cyclic 

Life 

(flights)

Remarks

6th stage V27433

V42059

V901364

12600

12600

12600

2074

12000

12000

7th stage (front) V28382

V42062

V28501

V901365

2500

2500

16200

16200

702

702

7673

7673

7th stage (rear) V28383

V42061

V28502

V901366

2500

2500

16200

16200

702

702

7673

7673

7th stage sub 

unit (comprising 

V28501 front & 

V28502 rear 

discs)

V35813 16200 7673

7th stage sub 

unit (comprising 

V901365 front & 

V901366 rear 

discs)

V901359 16200 7673

Rotating Shrouds

Zero Stage V24671

V44045

V53088

V110422

2400

2400

2400

2400

2400

2400

2400

2400

One overhaul 

life after 

salvage to 

V46088
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

72-A408 January 2015

Page 4 Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

Table 1 - Revised Group A Component Lives (cont.)

Item Part No.

Present 

cleared 

cyclic life 

(flights) 

Ref Time 

Limits

Chapter 5-

10-01 of 

Overhaul 

Manual 

dated Feb 

2013

Revised 

Cleared 

Cyclic 

Life 

(flights)

Remarks

6th stage V26812

V27891

V44051

V48723

V107239

V109011

V110430

3900

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

3900

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Turbine Mainshaft

V21171

V25276

V26569

V29405

V44068

V42839

V36910

V36911

V36912

3150

3150

3150

20000

20000

20000

5000

5000

5000

790

790

790

5014

5014

5014

1254

1254

1254

Turbine Disc

V25184

V26832

V27502

V44810

V56338

3600

7500

7500

5000

5000

630

1314

1314

876

876
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

January 2015 72-A408

Page 5

Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

Table 1 - Revised Group A Component Lives (cont.)

Item Part No.

Present 

cleared 

cyclic life 

(flights) 

Ref Time 

Limits 

Chapter 5-

10-01 of 

Overhaul 

Manual 

dated Feb 

2013

Revised 

Cleared 

Cyclic 

Life 

(flights)

Remarks

Combustion 

Chamber Casing

V22713

V44477

V45669

V45694

15000

15000

15000

15000

5396

5396

5396

5396

(2) Any components that have operated beyond the revised 

cleared life in flight cycles must be removed from 

service operation.

(3) Engine log books and component log cards must be 

amended with the revised lives.

(4) The unsupportable lives in Table 1 of this Bulletin

are published in:

Viper Mk.521 Overhaul Manual, Chapter 5-10, Table 1

(5) The above Manual will be updated to reflect the 

revised cleared life in flight cycles published in 

Table 1.
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

72-A408 January 2015

Page 6 Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

D. Compliance

(1) It is anticipated that this Alert Service Bulletin 

will become the subject of an EASA Airworthiness 

Directive.

(2) Mandatory: on receipt of this Service Bulletin.

(3) Refer to Engine log book and/or the component log card 

to establish the Time Since New (TSN) flight cycles 

life for the Group A components in Table 1.

(4) Installed engines - Immediately upon receipt of this

Service Bulletin.

(5) Engines not installed - Prior to installation.

(6) Uninstalled Group A components in Table 1 - Prior to 

installation in an engine.

E. Approval

The technical content of this ALERT Service Bulletin was 

approved under the authority of Design Organisation 

Approval EASA.21J.035 on 6th November 2014.

F. Manpower - Field Embodiment

Not applicable

G. Material - Cost and Availability

Price and availability from Rolls-Royce on request.

H. Tooling - Cost and Availability

No additional special tools are required.

I. Weight and Balance

Engine weight change None

J. Reference

Viper Mk.521 Engine Overhaul Manual

K. Publications Affected

Viper Mk.521 Engine Overhaul Manual, Chapter 5-10, Table 1
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

January 2015 72-A408

Page 7

Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS

A. Installed and Uninstalled Engines

(1) Check the engine log book to establish the TSN flight 

cycles of each Group A component. If the component 

life TSN is greater than the revised flight cycles 

life limit detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, the 

engine must be removed from service operation. Proceed 

to Recording Instructions at Para 2.C of this 

bulletin.

(2) If the component life TSN is below the flight cycles 

detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, but will exceed 

this total if operated to the next planned removal 

point, then the engine may continue in service 

operation until the revised flight cycle life limit is 

reached. Proceed to Recording Instructions at Para 

2.C. of this bulletin.

(3) If the component life TSN is below the revised flight 

cycles life limit detailed in Table 1 of this 

bulletin, and the component will not exceed this total

if operated to the next planned removal date then 

proceed to Recording Instructions at Para 2.C. of this 

bulletin.

B. Uninstalled Group A Components.

(1) Check the component log card/relevant document to 

establish the TSN flight cycles of the component. If 

the component life TSN is greater than the revised 

flight cycle life detailed in Table 1 of this 

bulletin, the component must be rejected. Proceed to 

Recording Instructions at Para 2.C. of this bulletin.

(2) If the component life TSN is below the revised flight 

cycle life detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin then 

proceed to Recording Instructions at Para 2.C. of this 

bulletin.
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

72-A408 January 2015

Page 8 Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

C. Recording Instructions

(1) Installed Engines

(a) Installed engines that contain Group A components

that have exceeded the revised flight cycle life 

limit detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, 

endorse the engine log book with “Engine removed 

from service operation for Group A life expiry in 

accordance with SB72-A408”.

(b) Installed engines that contain Group A components

that have not exceeded the revised flight cycle 

life limit as detailed in Table 1 of this 

bulletin, but will exceed the revised flight cycle 

life limit before the next planned engine removal, 

amend the engine log book and component log 

card/relevant document to reflect the revised 

flight cycle life of each Group A component as 

detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, and record 

compliance with SB72-A408.

(c) Installed engines that contain Group A components

that have not exceeded the revised flight cycle 

life detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, and 

will not exceed the life limit before the next 

planned engine removal, amend the engine log book 

and component log card/relevant document to 

reflect the revised flight cycle life limit of 

each Group A component as detailed in Table 1 of 

this bulletin, and record compliance with SB72-

A408.

(2) Uninstalled Engines

(a) Uninstalled engines that contain Group A 

components that have exceeded the revised flight 

cycle life limit as detailed in Table 1 of this 

bulletin endorse the engine log book with “Engine 

declared unserviceable for Group A life expiry in 

accordance with SB72-A408”.
ROLLS-ROYCE plc

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

Mk.521 Number 72-A408

Circulation A

ENGINE - REVISED COMPONENT GROUP A LIVES AND REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF

COMPONENTS THAT HAVE OPERATED BEYOND THEIR SUPPORTABLE LIVES

January 2015 72-A408

Page 9/10

Use or disclosure of this information is subject to

The restrictions on the title page of this document

(b) Uninstalled engines that contain Group A 

components that have not exceeded the revised 

flight cycle life limit as detailed in Table 1 of 

this bulletin, amend the engine log book and 

component log card/relevant document to reflect 

the revised flight cycle life of each Group A 

component as detailed in Table 1 of this bulletin, 

and record compliance with SB72-A408.

(3) Uninstalled Group A components

(a) Components that have exceeded the revised flight 

cycle life limit as detailed in Table 1 of this 

bulletin, endorse the component log card with 

“Life Expired in accordance with SB72-A408”.

(b) Components that have not exceeded the revised 

flight cycle life limit as detailed in Table 1 of 

this bulletin, amend the component log 

card/relevant document to reflect the revised 

flight cycle life limit detailed in Table 1 of 

this bulletin and record compliance with SB72-

A408.

D. Reporting Compliance

Compliance with this Service Bulletin is to be reported to 

Rolls-Royce plc for each component.