FAA Orders Bolt Inspections on Pratt & Whitney Engines Now
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Rule
Summary
If you own Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E or PW535E1 engines, listen up! The FAA wants you to regularly check certain bolts for cracks or damage to keep your engine safe. These inspections need to happen often, and if any bolts are bad, they must be replaced—so plan for some maintenance time and costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory bolt inspections for PW535E
If you own or operate aircraft with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E or PW535E1 engines, the FAA requires repetitive borescope inspections (BSI) of the flange bolts that secure the gas generator case and turbine support case to look for bolt cracks, bolt fracture, missing bolts, or loose bolts. Any defective or missing bolts must be replaced as specified in the incorporated Transport Canada AD. The AD was prompted by a design review that found these bolts are susceptible to cracking at their current low-cycle fatigue life, so plan for recurring maintenance time and costs.
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