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Apparently, Pratt & Whitney's GTF (Geared TurboFan) engines are experiencing problems due to an apparent manufacturing defect involving turbine disks, which were manufactured with a powder metallurgy process in which foreign metal (foreign to the base alloy) pieces found their way into the metal alloy matrix. Apparently, the foreign metal came from tooling that contacted the turbine disk material.
The problem affects the PW1000G series and variants, particulary the PW1100G series. In turn, Airbus A320/A321 NEO jets are affected.
The problem however was identified in a predecessor engine, a V2533 model, manufactured by International Aero Engines (IAE), an aerospace consortium of Roll Royce (UK), JAEC (Japan), MTU (Germany) and Pratt & Whitney (US); P&W was responsible for the turbine design. On March 18, 2020, an A321 operated by Vietnam Airlines (flight VN920) was taking off when the Number 2 (right) engine suffered a catastrophic turbine failure in which a turbine disk failed and fractured into three peices. The failure was uncontained with one piece of the disk exited the engine under the fuselage stopping about 80 meters from the engine to the left of the aircraft. A second piece of disk flew 734 m from the engine to the right side of the planw, passing over an adjacent runway and landing near the airport fence. The failed engine had been manufactured in 2012, but was sent for routine maintenance in 2018 in which the first high pressure turbine (HPT) was replaced.
The affected HPT disks were manufactured from 4Q2015 - 3Q2021.
Ostensibly, the faulty manufacturing process was corrected and subsequent HPTs and engines do not suffer from the fate.
The matter is the subject of an FAA Airworthiness Directive AD2022-19-15. The AD required UT inspection of the 1st and 2nd stages of the HPT.
https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/federal-register-documents/2024-06419
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2023-2237-0001
The problem affects the PW1000G series and variants, particulary the PW1100G series. In turn, Airbus A320/A321 NEO jets are affected.
The problem however was identified in a predecessor engine, a V2533 model, manufactured by International Aero Engines (IAE), an aerospace consortium of Roll Royce (UK), JAEC (Japan), MTU (Germany) and Pratt & Whitney (US); P&W was responsible for the turbine design. On March 18, 2020, an A321 operated by Vietnam Airlines (flight VN920) was taking off when the Number 2 (right) engine suffered a catastrophic turbine failure in which a turbine disk failed and fractured into three peices. The failure was uncontained with one piece of the disk exited the engine under the fuselage stopping about 80 meters from the engine to the left of the aircraft. A second piece of disk flew 734 m from the engine to the right side of the planw, passing over an adjacent runway and landing near the airport fence. The failed engine had been manufactured in 2012, but was sent for routine maintenance in 2018 in which the first high pressure turbine (HPT) was replaced.
The affected HPT disks were manufactured from 4Q2015 - 3Q2021.
Ostensibly, the faulty manufacturing process was corrected and subsequent HPTs and engines do not suffer from the fate.
The Problem with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G Engines on the A320neo Family
https://crankyflier.com/2023/09/26/...itneys-pw1100g-engines-on-the-a320neo-family/This Engine Problem SCRAPS Aircraft!
Pratt & Whitney's GTF Engine Problems: US Airlines Could Lose Over $150 Million
Pratt & Whitney GTF Engine Problems! Hundreds of Airbus A320neo Recalled for Inspection
The matter is the subject of an FAA Airworthiness Directive AD2022-19-15. The AD required UT inspection of the 1st and 2nd stages of the HPT.
https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/federal-register-documents/2024-06419
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2023-2237-0001
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