Airworthiness Directive 2003-11-18
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Pratt and Whitney PW4000 Series Turbofan Engines
What this AD requires
This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), that is applicable to Pratt and Whitney (PW) model 4000 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires interim actions to address engine takeoff power loss events until the high-pressure-compressor (HPC) case is redesigned and available for incorporation on the PW4000 engines. This amendment requires the same actions as that AD, adds on- wing Testing-21 to engines installed on Boeing 747 and MD-11 airplanes, and adds the requirement to install a new Ring Case Configuration (RCC) rear HPC on engines installed in the Boeing fleet as terminating action to the requirements of this AD. This amendment is prompted by the development of an RCC rear HPC for PW4000 series turbofan engines installed in the Boeing fleet. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent engine takeoff power losses due to HPC surge.
Which aircraft AD 2003-11-18 applies to
Compliance action depends on engine configuration: whether the HPT 1st-stage turbine vane cutback stator (1TVCB) modification per SB PW4ENG 72-514 has been incorporated, and whether the engine has been converted to Phase 3 configuration (Configurations A/B/C in AD Table 1).
Whether AD 2003-11-18 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.
How AD compliance is recorded
A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:
Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.
Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.