Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Division Engines
Key claim: The FAA proposes a new airworthiness directive requiring replacement of pressure burner sensors on specified Pratt & Whitney PW4000-series engines to address tailpipe fires, loss of thrust control, and in-flight shutdowns caused by undetected sensor deterioration.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration) The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) Model PW4052, PW4056, PW4060, PW4060A, PW4060C, PW4062, PW4062A, PW4152, PW4156, PW4156A, PW4158, PW4460, and PW4462 engines. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple reports of tailpipe fire, loss of thrust control, and engine in-flight shutdown due to undetected deterioration of pressure burner (Pb) sensors. This proposed AD would require replacing Pb sensors. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Why this matters
Pressure burner sensor deterioration on PW4000-series engines has been linked to tailpipe fires, thrust control loss, and in-flight shutdowns — safety-of-flight consequences that the FAA addresses through a targeted component replacement mandate. The proposed AD reflects the FAA’s routine mechanism for converting a known failure mode into an enforceable fleet-wide corrective action on affected widebody engines.