J69-T-25A engine component failure analysis

Reliability and serviceability¹ of jet engines in aviation industry is of paramount importance and is directly related to flight safety. Scheduled maintenance and preventive inspection programs are therefore in place for these engines worldwide. Old age provides maintenance maturity to a system but on the other hand requires focused efforts to ensure reliability due to aging factor. J69-T-25A falls in the same category as it is in service since the last six decades. Despite all maintenance efforts, a variety of defects are being faced on these engines. Some of the major defects include RPM fluctuation, noise, oil gain, vibrations and smoke. Troubleshooting process identifies that a number of components may contribute to these problems. Present study was focused on component failure analysis based on its frequency of failure. Top ten failing components were found to include Fuel Control Unit, Front and Rear bearings, Outer and inner shell, compressor and turbine housing, Fuel distributor and garlic seal.