Engines

US safety regulators are ordering inspections of the fan hub on Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, to check for defects or cracks.

The US FAA states that its directive – which takes effect on 11 July – has been prompted by reports of damage to the fan hub.

Damage was found on a PW1100G during an engine shop visit and the FAA says it believes this resulted from installation of the inlet cone without using alignment pins.

This could lead to bolts impacting the fan hub, it says, and the condition could result in uncontained hub failure.

The directive requires operators to carry out, within 90 days, a visual inspection of the fan hub in line with instructions issued by Pratt & Whitney on 31 May.

PW1100G engines are fitted to Airbus A320neo-family jets.

Hawaiian Airlines and budget carrier Spirit Airlines have the powerplant in their A320neo fleets, although the overall number of US-registered aircraft affected is relatively small. Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines have the rival CFM International Leap-1A on their jets.