Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT8D Series Turbofan Engines

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Pratt & Whitney JT8D series turbofan engines, that requires removal, visual inspection, eddy current inspection, repair or replacement of affected compressor disks. This amendment is prompted by reports of improper fixturing during the electrolytic cleaning process of certain compressor disks at a certified repair station, Avial or Greenwich Air Services, currently GE Engine Services Dallas LP, certificate number RA1R445K of Dallas, Texas, that can result in damage to the disks in the form of arc burns. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent compressor disk cracking from arc burns in tie rod holes, shielding holes, or pressure balance holes, which could lead to a fracture of a compressor disk, resulting in uncontained release of engine fragments, inflight engine shutdown, and airframe damage.