EASA AD No.
: 2018-0291R1
Airworthiness Directive
AD No.: 2018-0291R1
Issued: 24 February 2025
Note: This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued by EASA, acting in accordance with Regulation
(EU) 2018/1139 on behalf of the European Union, its Member States and of the European third
countries that participate in the activities of EASA under Article 129 of that Regulation.
This AD is issued in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012, Part 21.A.3B. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I Part M.A.301, or
Annex Vb Part ML.A.301, as applicable, 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 [Regulation (EU) 1321/2014 Annex I Part M.A.303, or Annex Vb Part ML.A.303, as applicable] or agreed with the Authority of the State of Registry
[Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Article 71 exemption].
Design Approval Holder’s Name: Type/Model designation(s):
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND Ltd & Co KG RB211 Trent 700 engines
Effective Date: Revision 1: 03 March 2025
Original issue: 04 January 2019
TCDS Number(s): EASA.E.042
Foreign AD: Not applicable
Revision: This AD revises EASA AD 2018-0291 dated 21 December 2018.
ATA 72 – Engine – High Pressure Turbine Blades – Replacement
Manufacturer(s):
Rolls-Royce plc (RR)
Applicability:
RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60 and 772C-60 engines, engine serial numbers (ESN) as
identified in Table 1 of Appendix 1 of the NMSB, except engines on which Rolls-Royce Service
Bulletin (SB) RB211 72−K414 has been embodied in service.
These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Airbus A330 aeroplanes.
Definitions:
For the purpose of this AD, the following definitions apply:
Where, in this AD, reference is made to an RR 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.
The NMSB: RR Trent 700 Alert Non-Modification Service Bulletin (NMSB) RB.211-72-AK165.
TE.CAP.00110-012 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 1 of 4
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union
EASA AD No.: 2018-0291R1
Affected blade: High pressure (HP) turbine blades having Part Number (P/N) FK20719 (pre-SB
RB.211-72-B577 standard), P/N FK26045 (SB RB.211-72-B577 standard), P/N FK29685
(SB RB.211-72-C632 standard), P/N FW15759 (SB RB.211-72-D304 standard) and P/N KH57573
(SB RB.211-72-J313 standard).
Serviceable blade: An affected blade which has not exceeded the applicable component life, as
defined in the NMSB, and that, before installation, has passed an inspection in accordance with the
instructions of Engine Manual (EM) inspection task 72-41-52-200-800; or an affected blade that is
new; or a HP turbine blade which is not an affected part.
Reason:
The affected blades on a number of RB211 Trent 700 engines have been subject to high levels of
corrosion fatigue, leading to blade cracking and eventual release. This has caused a number of
aborted take-off and in-flight shut-down events. Sampling has identified that corrosion fatigue
affects blades at varying rates, likely dependent on environmental, operational and individual blade
conditions.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of affected blades and subsequent increased
risk of high energy debris release, possibly resulting in damage to, and reduced control of, the
aeroplane.
To address this potential unsafe condition, RR issued the original issue of the NMSB
RB.211-72-AK165 and EASA issued AD 2018-0291, to provide instructions for removal from service
of certain engines where a higher level of corrosion exposure was expected for the affected blades.
Since that AD was issued, RR issued Revision 4 of the NMSB RB.211-72-AK165 removing certain
engines from Table 1 of its Appendix 1. Additionally, it was determined that removal from service of
engines listed in Table 2 of the of Appendix 1 of the NMSB RB.211-72-AK165 is no longer necessary
and that engines in post-SB RB211 72−K414 configuration are not susceptible for the unsafe
condition addressed by this AD.
For the reasons described above, this AD is revised to reduce the Applicability by excluding engines
in post-SB RB211 72−K414 configuration, removing reference to Table 2 of the of Appendix 1 of the
NMSB RB.211-72-AK165 and introducing Revision 4 of the NMSB RB.211-72-AK165. This revision
also introduces an optional terminating action for the repetitive replacements required by this AD.
Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s):
Required as indicated by this AD, unless the actions required by this AD have been already
accomplished:
Removal from Service:
(1) Before exceeding the compliance times specified in Section 1.D of the NMSB, as applicable to
ESN identified in Table 1 of Appendix 1 of the NMSB, and depending on the Component Life as
defined in the NMSB, remove the affected engine from service.
TE.CAP.00110-012 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 2 of 4
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union
EASA AD No.: 2018-0291R1
Corrective Action(s):
(2) After removing an engine from service as required by paragraph (1) of this AD, before release
to service of that engine, remove and replace the affected blades with serviceable blades, as
defined in this AD. This can be accomplished in accordance with the applicable instructions of
the EM, task 72-41-00 Page block 501 – HP System Module – Disassembly, and task 72-41-00
Page block 1001 – HP System Module – Assembly.
Terminating Action:
(3) Modification of an engine in accordance with the instructions of the Rolls-Royce
RB211 72−K414 by replacing all the affected parts with HP turbine blades having P/N KH96341
constitutes terminating action for repetitive replacements of the affected blades required by
this AD for that engine, provided that the engine remains in post-SB RB211 72−K414
configuration.
Ref. Publications:
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Alert NMSB RB.211-72-AK165 original issue dated 26 November 2018, or
Revision 1 dated 11 September 2019, or Revision 2 dated 25 November 2020, or Revision 3 dated
09 March 2022, or Revision 4 dated 31 January 2024.
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 Engine Manual E-Trent-1RR, dated 10 September 2018.
Rolls-Royce Trent 700 SB RB211 72−K414 original issue dated 21 July 2021, or Revision 1 dated 21
June 2024.
The use of later approved revisions of the above-mentioned documents 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 original issue of this AD was posted on 27 November 2018 as PAD 18-161 for consultation
until 11 December 2018. The Comment Response Document can be found in the EASA Safety
Publications Tool, in the compressed (zipped) file attached to the record for this AD.
3. Enquiries regarding this AD should be referred to the EASA Safety Information Section,
Certification Directorate. E-mail: [email protected].
4. Information about any failures, malfunctions, defects or other occurrences, which may be
similar to the unsafe condition addressed by this AD, and which may occur, or have occurred on
a product, part or appliance not affected by this AD, can be reported to the EU aviation safety
reporting system. This may include reporting on the same or similar components, other than
those covered by the design to which this AD applies, if the same unsafe condition can exist or
may develop on an aircraft with those components installed. Such components may be
installed under an FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC) or other modification.
TE.CAP.00110-012 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 3 of 4
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union
EASA AD No.: 2018-0291R1
5. 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
Rolls-Royce Care account at https://customers.rolls-royce.com.
If you do not have a designated representative or Rolls-Royce Care 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 through http://www.rolls-royce.com/contact/civil_team.jsp identifying the
correspondence as being related to Airworthiness Directives.
TE.CAP.00110-012 © European Aviation Safety Agency. All rights reserved. ISO9001 Certified. Page 4 of 4
Proprietary document. Copies are not controlled. Confirm revision status through the EASA-Internet/Intranet.
An agency of the European Union
