Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Corporation (Formerly Allison Engine Company) AE 3007 Series Turbofan Engines

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Corporation (RR) (formerly Allison Engine Company) AE 3007A, AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/2, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1P, and AE 3007A3 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections for bearing material contamination of the engine oil system. This AD requires the same inspections but with an extended repetitive inspection interval, and adds terminating actions to the repetitive inspections required by this AD. This AD is prompted by design changes introduced by the manufacturer that reduce the axial load on the No. 1 bearing. We are issuing this AD to prevent the rapid failure of the No. 1 bearing, which could result in smoke in the cabin and an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown.