Airworthiness Directive 2020-27897

one-time
AD 2020-27897 · 2020-12-18 · turbine engine

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) Turbofan Engines

What this AD requires

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (Type Certificate Previously Held by Rolls-Royce plc) (RRD) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60 and 772C-60 model turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement of high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades with parts eligible for installation before exceeding specified flight cycles since new. This AD was prompted by several reports from the manufacturer that HPT blades on RB211 Trent 700 model turbofan engines have been subject to high levels of corrosion fatigue, leading to blade cracking and eventual release, resulting in an aborted take-off and in-flight shut- downs. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Which aircraft AD 2020-27897 applies to

MakesRolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co Kg (Rrd)
ModelsTrent 768-60, Trent 772-60, Trent 772B-60, Trent 772C-60, Trent 700

Applies only to engines with an engine serial number (ESN) identified in Table 1 or Table 2 of Appendix 1 of Rolls-Royce NMSB RB.211-72-AK165, dated November 26, 2018.

Whether AD 2020-27897 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:

Method of complianceThe specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
DateWhen the work was done.
Aircraft timeTotal time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificateThe A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 2020-27897 complied with on your aircraft?

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.