Introduction

Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 787 aeroplanes, according to Rolls Royce these engines are “Optimized specifically to power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family of aircraft, it draws on the technology and experience of four previous generations of Trent engines.”

RR Trent 1000 is 3 shaft high by pass ratio, axial turbofan with low, intermediate and high pressure compressor driven by separate turbines through coaxial shafts, with :

  • the highest bypass ratio of any Trent engine 10:1,
  •  20% More fuel efficient than the 767 that the Trent 1000-powered 787 replaces,
  • 99.9% Dispatch reliability since EIS,
  • Least environmental impact,
  • Bleedless design

Challenges faces Trent 1000 engines

  1. Several Dreamliner operators have reported corrosion-related fatigue cracking with the Trent 1000 Package C engines’ intermediate-pressure turbine (IPT) blades, defects that may result in engine failure. The issue has led to increased rates of inspection (reducing the inspection interval from 200 flights to 80 flights), which adds to maintenance costs and reduces aircraft availability.
  2. Boeing reported to the FAA that the engine manufacturer recently determined that intermediate pressure compressor (IPC) stage 2 blades have a resonant frequency that is excited by the airflow conditions existing in the engine during operation at high thrust settings under certain temperature and altitude conditions.
  3. EASA issue Airworthiness Directive AD #2018-0167R2 Intermediate Pressure Compressor Blades / Shafts – Inspection on Trent 1000-A, Trent 1000-AE, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-CE, Trent 1000-D, Trent 1000-E,Trent 1000-G, and Trent 1000-H engines, all serial numbers. These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 787 aeroplanes. (Reference EASA AD #2018-0167Revision 2 effective16 October 2018).
  4. After 3 superseded AD, EASA issue Airworthiness Directive AD #2018-0257 Intermediate Pressure Turbine Blades –Replacement (Reference EASA AD #2018-0257 effective 12 December 2018) on Trent 1000-A, Trent 1000-C, Trent 1000-D, Trent 1000-E, Trent 1000-G, Trent 1000-H, Trent 1000-AE, Trent 1000-CE, Trent 1000-A2, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-D2, Trent 1000-E2, Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 1000-J2, Trent 1000-K2, Trent 1000-L2, Trent 1000-AE2 and Trent 1000-CE2 engines, serial numbers (ESN) as listed in the AD, These engines are known to be installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 787 aeroplanes.
  5. The US Federal Aviation Administration FAA has limited Dreamliners Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes, certificated in any category, powered by Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Trent 1000-A2, Trent 1000-AE2, Trent 1000-C2, Trent 1000-CE2, Trent 1000-D2, Trent 1000-E2, Trent 1000-G2, Trent 1000-H2, Trent 1000-J2, Trent 1000-K2, and Trent 1000-L2 turbofan engines to 140 minutes from the nearest airport instead of the 330 minutes they were originally certified for. (Reference: FAA Airworthiness Directive # 2018-08-03 effective April 17, 2018).
  6. As Rolls Royce mention them self  :“As part of our ongoing inspection and testing of those engines we have decided to carry out additional engine inspections to those previously planned. The increased inspection frequency is driven by our further understanding of the durability of the Trent 1000 Package C compressor, a condition that we highlighted earlier this year. These inspections will be supported by service management and flight operations guidance to airlines to be issued by the airworthiness authorities. This will unfortunately lead to additional disruption for our customers. There are 380 Package C engines currently in-service with airlines. This new regime does not impact Trent 1000 Package B engines or Trent 1000 TEN engines.”

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