V2500 Problems Traced To Parts From Scottish Plant

Aviation engine maker Rolls-Royce is recalling faulty airplane engine parts manufactured at its Inchinnan plant in Renfrewshire, Scotland, after complaints of three inflight engine shutdowns came to light.

Each of those V2500 engines -- one of which, in the most serious incident, failed shortly after takeoff -- had components made at the plant. All three engines failed due to turbine vanes breaking under pressure -- a problem also reported on eight other planes.

The Guardian reports an internal memo states "a vane failed during service causing an engine shutdown. It was one of three in-service failures for the same reason."

Rolls-Royce has been recalling all the faulty parts, which were made over a month at the plant in 2004. The company is also urging repair shops worldwide to be on the lookout for affected engines as the planes come due for service.

No word yet on the cost of the recall to Rolls Royce, or what it could mean to the future of the Inchinnan plant... but in the words of the internal memo, the incident has "severely dented" the company's confidence in the Scottish facility.

FMI: www.rollsroyce.com