P.M. BRIEFING : Cracks Found Inside Jet Engines
From Times Wire Services
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. —
Pratt & Whitney, a major manufacturer of jet engines, has advised customers of cracks found inside the main turbine shafts of 12 of its newest engines, a company spokesman said today.
The problem was considered serious enough to advise all customers and the Federal Aviation Administration when it was discovered earlier this month by the company, Pratt & Whitney spokesman Mark Sullivan said.
Sullivan said emergency inspections have turned up cracks in only 12 of the 174 PW4000 engines delivered to aircraft builders and air carriers so far. The engines are designed to power wide-body airliners.
