Rosaviatsiya, the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia, has initiated an extraordinary inspection of 53 PS-90 family aircraft engines in response to the identification of a potentially severe defect in the low-pressure turbine’s retaining pins. PS-90A, PS-90A-76, and PS-90A1 engines installed on 29 aircraft operated by nine operators are subject to the airworthiness directive, 2026-FATA-02074-07, dated September 22, 2026.
The directive is relevant to many significant Russian passenger, cargo, and transport aircraft fleets, as it pertains to the Ilyushin Il-76, Tupolev Tu-204, Tupolev Tu-214, and Ilyushin Il-96. The directive was published on September 22, as confirmed by the official Rosaviatsiya database.
The inspection is the result of a series of incidents in which the retaining pins associated with the third-stage nozzle apparatus of the low-pressure turbine were discovered to have either moved or gone missing. The issue has been identified in three engines, two of which were prematurely removed from service.
February Incident Triggered Investigation
The most significant event occurred on February 14, 2026, when the low-pressure turbine of a PS-90A-76 engine installed on Volga-Dnepr’s Il-76TD-90VD RA-76511 was damaged. United Engine Corporation (UEC) issued a technical solution that attributed the damage to the loss of pins that secure sectors of the third-stage turbine nozzle apparatus.
Subsequently, the investigation identified two additional engines that exhibited the same issue. A PS-90A was taken out of operation after missing pins were discovered, while one PS-90A-76 was removed from service after suffering identical damage.
The discovery is significant in that the pins are a component of the system that secures components within a high-temperature turbine environment. The movement of turbine components may result in secondary damage if a pin is either dislodged or fails to remain in its designated position.
Defect Linked to Overhaul Work
UEC has linked the problem not to newly manufactured engines but to engines that underwent major overhaul during the 2016–2024 period. The alleged cause is the combination of inadequate rolling or swaging of the repaired outer rings and poor-quality repair work on the nozzle sectors.
This distinction is crucial. The defect is not regarded as a characteristic of engines that have been recently manufactured, as indicated by the technical documentation. Rather, the risk is linked to a particular group of engines that underwent maintenance operations during the designated time frame.
The issue may also require a period of time to manifest. The technical information suggests that the defect may become apparent after an engine has accumulated over 100 operating cycles following the relevant repair.
Therefore, the matter is indicative of a maintenance-quality issue rather than being indicative of a general design defect that impacts the entire PS-90 fleet.
Inspection to Be Carried Out During Scheduled Maintenance
Rosaviatsiya has not ordered the immediate grounding of all 53 engines. Rather, the inspection is to be integrated into the subsequent scheduled maintenance event in accordance with the relevant maintenance procedure.
The gas-generator casing must be inspected by technicians for indications that the retaining pins that secure the split rings of the third-stage low-pressure turbine nozzle apparatus have become recessed, protruding, or completely absent.
Certain pins are concealed behind components of the engine’s air-blowing system and are inaccessible for direct inspection. In these instances, video endoscopy is required by maintenance personnel. The inspection results must be submitted to UEC’s Aviadvigatel and Perm Motors divisions for evaluation, and they must be documented through photographs or video.
The acceptance criteria are exceedingly stringent. In the event that a pin is recessed by more than 1.5 millimeters or protrudes beyond the external surface of the enclosure, the operator is required to submit the inspection material to UEC for a decision on the continued operation. A formal report must be prepared. The engine must be removed from service if a pin is entirely missing.
Broader Turbine Inspection
The inspection does not stop with the retaining pins. The gas-generator and turbine casings, associated assemblies, pipelines, locking arrangements, and connections are also examined as part of the maintenance procedure.
Additionally, engineers must inspect the nozzle-apparatus casings of the second through sixth turbine stages for potential cracks. It is also necessary to inspect conduits and brackets for damage, as well as fuel and oil leaks.
This more comprehensive examination acknowledges the potential for additional indications of deterioration to accompany a displaced or absent pin.
29 Aircraft Across Four Aircraft Types
The affected population consists of five Il-76 aircraft, eight Tu-204s, nine Tu-214s, and seven Il-96 aircraft. Volga-Dnepr, Red Wings, Sky Gates, Russian Post, Business-Aero, and the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center are among the operators named in the affected fleet.
Engine inspections will be conducted by Red Wings on Tu-214 aircraft RA-64518 and RA-64549, as well as Tu-204 aircraft RA-64043. In the inspection population of Sky Gates, there are two Il-96-400T aircraft: RA-96101 and RA-96103. In 2023–2024, their engines were overhauled.
The five Volga-Dnepr Il-76 aircraft included in the directive underwent pertinent repairs during the 2016–2017 and 2023–2024 periods.
No Immediate Fleet-Wide Grounding
The directive does not mean that all 29 aircraft are being withdrawn from service. Rosaviatsiya has structured the investigation around scheduled maintenance, enabling operators to continue flying the aircraft unless a specific engine is identified as meeting the removal criteria.
This strategy is crucial for Russia, as the PS-90 family continues to serve as a major power source for domestic aviation and transportation operations. The Tu-204, Tu-214, Il-96, and Il-76 variants are among the aircraft that are powered by the engine. The PS-90A is listed by UEC as one of the engines used in the Il-76TD-90, Il-96, Il-96-400T, Tu-204, and Tu-214 families.
UEC-Aviadvigatel is anticipated to furnish Rosaviatsiya with an evaluation of the condition of the afflicted engines upon the conclusion of the inspections.
The episode highlights a growing challenge for Russia’s aviation industry: extending engine service lifetimes through repair while ensuring the airworthiness of an aging aircraft fleet. In this instance, the immediate concern appears to be focused on engines that underwent specific repair procedures. However, the decision to inspect 53 engines illustrates the severity with which regulators are approaching the possibility of a repeat turbine failure.