The FAA has issued two emergency airworthiness directives covering Rolls-Royce Deutschland Trent 700 and Trent 800 engines after Europe moved first on the same defect, forcing operators of Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft and first-generation Boeing 777s to separate affected oil pumps across twin-engine fleets. The action targets a low-time oil pump issue linked to possible internal rotor cracking and bars special flight permits while compliance is immediate.
The directives apply to Trent 700 engines fitted to the A330ceo family, Beluga XL and A330 MRTT aircraft, and to Trent 800 engines used on Boeing 777-200, 777-200ER and 777-300 models. Rolls-Royce’s newer Trent 7000, Trent XWB and Trent 1000 programmes are outside the scope.
Regulators said the defect could lead to in-flight engine shutdown and, in the worst case, loss of both engines on a twin-engine aircraft if two affected pumps are paired on the same airframe. The interim measures leave airlines to reshuffle engine assignments and maintenance plans until a permanent remedy, such as part replacement or repetitive inspections, is established.