Pratt & Whitney has confirmed that a number of PW1100G engines powering Airbus A320neos have been affected by a vibration issue.
The US manufacturer says it has "returned to service some PW1100G" powerplants following repair after a "transitory engine vibration" was detected.
P&W adds that the vibration is a "previously identified issue that has impacted less than 2% of PW1100G engines delivered".
Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that 140 A320neos and 42 A321neos powered by PW1100G engines have been handed to operators since service entry with Lufthansa in 2016.
The in-service fleet is likely to include additional spare engines.
P&W says it is working with "customers... to minimise impact to their operations”.
Deliveries of new engines have not been affected, it stresses.
The manufacturer declined to provide further information, but says that PW1500G and PW1900G engines – which power the A220 and the Embraer 190-E2, respectively – are not affected by the vibration issue.
Airbus tells FlightGlobal that the source of the vibration is "under investigation" by P&W. The problem was not noticed when affected aircraft were delivered, but develops over a certain number of cycles, says the airframer.
Once the vibrations occur, operators have a certain cycle margin until the engine needs replacement, Airbus says.
Lufthansa – which has reportedly been affected by the issue – declined to comment.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
