A380s with Rolls engines ordered for special spacer checks

All A380 aircraft fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines are to undertake special inspections following EASA's decision to order the checks for a missing spacer on an oil pipe in the low-pressure turbine following a partial engine failure on the type.

A low-pressure section seized on a revenue service flight, forcing an A380 to return to the departure airport, according to the airworthiness directive. The flight crew had detected vibration from the intermediate-pressure turbine and several faults from the low-pressure turbine, and throttled back the engine to idle, EASA said.

According to the initial investigation, a spacer, between an oil transfer tube and the end cover of a bearing housing had not been installed. As a result the tube had fractured, leading to a reduction in the oil flow to the bearings of the low pressure turbine.

EASA said that if not detected, such a condition could result in uncontained engine failure and ordered airlines to inspect the engine to make sure the spacer for the oil transfer tube is properly installed.

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