Service difficulty report · Engine · Boeing 777222

Difficulty date
May 6, 2008
Submitted
May 6, 2008
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N228UA
Make and model
Boeing 777222
Aircraft serial
30556
Aircraft time
25,470 hours, 3,261 cycles
Engine
Pwa PW4090
Engine time
41,469 hours, 5,961 cycles
Part
Engine
Condition
Vibration
Location
Nr 1
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

NR 1 ENGINE VIBRATION. FLT 803-05 DIVERTED TO SEA DUE TO PHYSICAL VIBRATION. VIB FOLLOWED THROTTLE. AVM PEGGED AT 10 UNITS. AFTER SHUTDOWN AT SEA, N1 ROTOR LOCKED UP. ENGINE REPLACED AT SEA. TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE THRUST BALANCE AIRSEAL (TB AIRSEAL) WAS CRACKED, WITH 2 CHUNKS LIBERATED. THE 2 CHUNKS INCLUDED A KNIFE EDGE, AND AN ANGLED PORTION OF THE BARREL. THE HARDWARE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO PRATT & WHITNEY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.