Pratt & Whitney Canada PW500 Engine: Some help for your technical questions

April 1, 2003

Some help for your technical questions

PW500 engine is an advanced, high bypass ratio turbofan engine in the 3,000- to 4,500-pound thrust range that offers a common core concept for a wide range of aircraft requirements. In the PW500 engine family, there are currently three models - the PW530A, the PW535A, and the PW545A. The PW530A, rated at 2,887 pounds of thrust, powers the Cessna Citation Bravo business jet aircraft, which entered service in February 1997. The PW535A entered service with the delivery of the first Cessna Citation Ultra Encore in September 2000. And the PW545A powers the Cessna Citation Excel, which entered service in July 1998.

Components
Main engine components of the PW500 include: an Integrally Bladed Rotor (IBR) fan driven by a turbine assembly; a common core IBR compressor stages with a single centrifugal compressor driven by a single stage turbine (cooled vane); a reverse flow combustor; and thrust management governed by an advanced hydromechanical fuel control unit. An Electronic Engine Control (EEC) system is available as optional equipment.

Operation
The air enters the engine through the fan. Approximately 75 percent is directed to the annular bypass duct providing most of the engine thrust. The rest is compressed and fed to the combustion chamber where it is mixed with fuel and ignited. The hot gas then expands through the turbine stages. The first stage drives the compressor and the accessories, the second, mechanically independent from the first, drives the fan. Finally, the hot gas is discharged through the exhaust mixer.

Technical questions?
With any aircraft engine comes the need for technical help. Maintenance technicians in the field often need assistance from experts on the engines they are working on.

When it comes to technical questions, P&WC's 24-hour hotline responds to wide variety of questions, including those related to the PW500 engine family. Pratt & Whitney Canada offers its customers around the world prompt answers to questions about company products and services.

"Our Customer Help Desk, which was established in 1990, is part of our commitment to provide customer support that is unmatched in the industry," says Marc Bartolomucci, manager, Customer Support Help Desk.

Located in Longueuil, Quebec, the Help Desk is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by P&WC technical personnel who have quick access to a wide array of logistics support systems and information related to P&WC engines and services. The Customer Help Desk fields thousands of customer calls including technical and engine troubleshooting queries, AOG spare parts services and delivery status, and engine status in any P&WC service center. All calls are recorded as action items and carefully tracked until successful resolution.

"Our Help Desk personnel can provide you with up-to-date information and technical assistance at any time, day or night," says Bartolomucci. "Our help desk is set up and staffed by people who can address any question or request.
"Our service is extremely versatile and responsive, and as a result has become an industry benchmark," continues Bartolomucci. "Many companies have copied our model after being impressed with our operation and highly positive customer ratings."

Technical Q&A
According to Bartolomucci, the top five technical questions related to PW500 engines include:

  1. Where can I find a list of cycle limited components?
    Answer: A list of cycle limited components is in the Airworthiness Limitations section of the engine Maintenance Manual. When searching for the LCF of a component, it is essential to refer to the detailed part number for the specific rotor component - and not the assembly part number.
  2. Where can I find a list of approved oils and fuels?
    Answer: A list of approved oil and fuel is in section 72-:00-00 of the engine Maintenance Manual.
  3. What are the PW500 overhaul and HSI intervals?
    Answer: The Overhaul & HSI intervals can be found in the engine maintenance manual: Chapter 05-00-00 for a complete list of SB's.
  4. When searching for a specific engine operating procedure, should I be referring to the P&WC Maintenance Manual or the Airframe Maintenance Manual?
    Answer: The OEM instructions take precedence over the engine manufacturer recommendations, unless otherwise specified.
  5. What is the oil consumption limit of PW500 models?
    Answer: The oil consumption limit for all PW500 models is 0.2 lbs/hr (90 ml/hr). This limit is based over a 10-hour period.

As mentioned above, the aircraft OEM instructions take precedence over the engine manufacturer's unless otherwise specified. When working on PW 500 Series engines or any P&WC product, if you are unclear of procedures, or have any questions, contact the Customer Help Desk through the number listed at the left.


Additional ReSource
Pratt & Whitney Customer Help Desk

USA & Canada: 1-800-268-8000
International: International Access Code +8000-268-8000 (presently available in the following countries: Australia; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Ireland; Israel; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Norway; Netherlands; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; United Kingdom).

Other: 1-450-647-8000
Fax: 1-450-647-2888
Email: [email protected]