FAA orders · airworthiness directive · current

2008-25-01: Low-pressure turbine (LPT) discs

FAA order 2008-25-01 is an airworthiness directive in force since December 17, 2008. The FAA's subject line: Low-pressure turbine (LPT) discs. It names the Rolls-Royce RB-211 series engine: about 182 aircraft on the U.S. register today, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: engine.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product: Engine
Makes: Rolls-Royce plc
Models: RB211 Trent 553-61, RB211 Trent 553A2-61, RB211 Trent 556-61, RB211 Trent 556A2-61, RB211 Trent 556B-61, RB211 Trent 556B2-61, RB211 Trent 560-61, RB211 Trent 560A2-61
Engine series: Rolls-Royce RB-211 series 182 aircraft

Dates and paperwork

In force since: December 17, 2008
Published: December 2, 2008 (signed November 24, 2008)
Docket: FAA-2008-1122
Status: Current
The FAA's document: Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Recent analysis of the low-pressure turbine (LPT) discs 1-5 carried out by Rolls-Royce plc concluded that it is necessary to reduce the declared safe cyclic life of all Trent 500 LPT stage 3 discs, part number (P/N) FK29581. Rolls-Royce plc has reduced the declared safe cyclic life of these LPT stage 3 discs to 7,990 cycles-since-new (CSN). This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI, which could result in uncontained failure of LPT stage 3 discs, resulting in damage to the airplane.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (2,337 characters)

2008-25-01 Rolls-Royce plc: Amendment 39-15759; Docket No. FAA-2008- 1122; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-35-AD. 

Effective Date 

	(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective December 17, 2008. 

Affected ADs 

	(b) None. 

Applicability 

	(c) This AD applies to Rolls-Royce plc RB211 Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, and 560A2-61 turbofan engines with a low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 disc, part number (P/N) FK29581, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A340-500 and A340-600 series airplanes. 

Reason 

	(d) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2008-0098, dated May 21, 2008, states the unsafe condition as follows: 
	Recent analysis of the LPT discs 1-5 carried out by Rolls-Royce plc concluded that it is necessary to reduce the declared safe cyclic life of all Trent 500 LPT stage 3 discs, P/N FK29581. 
	Rolls-Royce plc has reduced the declared safe cyclic life of these LPTstage 3 discs to 7,990 cycles-since-new (CSN). We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of the LPT stage 3 disc, resulting in damage to the airplane. 

Actions and Compliance 

	(e) After the effective date of this AD, remove LPT stage 3 discs, P/N FK29581, from service before reaching the new reduced declared safe cyclic life of 7,990 CSN. 
	(f) Do not install an LPT stage 3 disc, P/N FK29581, onto any engine, unless it has been verified that the disc has not yet accumulated 7,990 CSN. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) 

	(g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

	(h) Refer to EASA Airworthiness Directive 2008-0098, dated May 21, 2008, and Rolls-Royce plc Alert Service Bulletin No. RB.211-72- AF781, dated April 2, 2008, for related information. Contact Rolls- Royce plc, P.O. Box 31, Derby, England, DE248BJ; telephone: 011-44- 1332-242424; fax: 011-44-1332-245418, for the alert service bulletin. 
	(i) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: [email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238- 7199, for more information about this AD.

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of November 6, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2008-25-01.json · aircraft systems.