FAA orders V2500 compressor blade replacements, Lufthansa Technik cites shortage

The US Federal Aviation Administration has made it mandatory to replace rotor blades in the high-pressure compressor of IAE V2500 engines, following reports of blade failures that led to engine fires, aborted take-offs and in-flight shutdowns. According to an airworthiness directive, the problem lies in the third stage of the high-pressure compressor, deep inside the engine. Around 1,400 engines in the United States alone are affected.

The V2500 is built by International Aero Engines and powers the Airbus A319, A320 and A321, the McDonnell Douglas MD-90 and the Embraer C-390. In a jet engine the high-pressure compressor compresses incoming air before it reaches the combustion chamber; each stage uses rotating blades to raise the pressure further.

The FAA received multiple reports of failed rotor blades. An investigation by the manufacturer found the cause, prompting the replacement order. The agency expects most airlines to opt for refurbished parts, which are cheaper.

Lufthansa Technik, however, says only new parts are available in sufficient numbers, and these cost seven times as much as the reworked alternative. The company sees a bottleneck in what would otherwise be the least expensive solution.