Urgent directive from European and US regulators warns over potential for dual in-flight shutdown.
Operators of Rolls-Royce Trent-powered Boeing 777s and older Airbus A330 variants have been ordered to de-pair engines with certain oil pumps over concerns about potential dual in-flight shutdown.
According to an emergency directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, a number of low oil-pressure events have occurred on low-life oil pumps.
“Subsequent investigation identified a potential failure mode affecting the oil pump input-coupling shear neck,” it states.
Aircraft with two engines affected by the same condition could potentially experience in-flight shutdown of both powerplants.
EASA states that carriers must not operate an aircraft with two affected engines from 8 September, the effective date of the directive.
Trent 700 engines are an option on A330-200s and -300s while Trent 800s are an option on 777-200s, -200ERs and -300s.
EASA has identified the part numbers of the oil pumps affected.
Rolls-Royce issued service bulletins on 4 September which instruct operators to de-pair engines on the types, in order to ensure that no affected parts are fitted in both powerplants of a single airframe.
EASA adds that the directive is considered to be “interim action” and further measures could follow. The emergency directive has also been replicated by the US FAA.
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