Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1, -1A, -1B, -7, - 7A, -7B, -9, -9A, -11, -15, -15A, -17, -17A, -17R, and -17AR Series Turbofan Engines

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1, -1A, -1B, -7, -7A, -7B, -9, -9A, -11, -15, -15A, -17, -17A, -17R, and -17AR series turbofan engines, that requires revisions to the engine manufacturer's Time Limits Section (TLS) of the JT8D-1, -1A, -1B, -7, -7A, -7B, -9, -9A, -11, -15, -15A, -17, -17A, -17R, and -17AR Turbofan Engines Manual to include enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This amendment will also require an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate these inspection procedures. This amendment is prompted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study of in-service events involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts that indicated the need for improved inspections. The improved inspections are needed to identify those critical rotating parts with conditions that if allowed to continue in service, could result in uncontained failures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent critical life- limited rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.