Airworthiness Directives; Pratt and Whitney PW4000 Series Turbofan Engines

This amendment supersedes an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2001-08-52 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Pratt and Whitney (PW) model PW4050, PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4160, PW4460, PW4462, and PW4650 turbofan engines by individual letters. That emergency AD requires limiting the number of PW4000 engines, listed by serial number (SN) in that AD, with potentially reduced stability to no more than one engine on each airplane; removal of certain PW4000 engines, listed by SN in this AD, before exceeding cyclic limits that are determined by airplane model; removal of certain PW4000 engines, listed by SN in this AD, that have a high pressure compressor with 1,500 or more cycles-since-overhaul (CSO) greater than the high pressure turbine (HPT) CSO; and requires a minimum rebuild standard for engines that are returned to service. This amendment supersedes emergency AD 2001-08-52 to provide clarifications and additions to the compliance and applicability of certain paragraphs of AD 2001-08-52. This AD is prompted by a report of a dual-engine surge event during take-off on an Airbus Industrie A300 airplane. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent multiple-engine power losses due to high pressure compressor (HPC) surge at a critical phase of flight such as takeoff or climb.