Operators of Airbus A320-family jets are being ordered to remove disks from certain International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants after an uncontained failure resulted in an aborted A321 take-off.
The incident occurred on 18 March, says the US FAA, and involved a high-pressure turbine first-stage disk failure.
While the regulator has not confirmed which event spurred the directive, a V2500-powered Vietnam Airlines A321 aborted take-off at Ho Chi Minh City on this date with apparent substantial damage to its starboard engine.
The FAA is ordering removal, within five flight cycles, of certain first-stage high-pressure turbine disks – bearing particular part and serial numbers – fitted to various models of V2500 engine.
All other affected engine models should have records reviewed within three days to assess whether particular disks have been fitted, and operators should remove these disks if installed.
It says the root cause of the initiating event is “still under investigation” and that further measures could be ordered.
High-energy debris penetrated the engine cowl during the incident, and the FAA says it is taking the steps to “prevent failure of the high-pressure turbine”.
