What action is taken if hot-section inspection reveals thermal damage after an overheating event?

• A. Ignore damage and continue with service.
• B. Replace damaged components and verify cooling passages and clearances.
• C. Only re-coat the exterior surface.
• D. Rebalance the engine without changes.

Answer: (B)

When the hot-section inspection shows thermal damage after an overheating event, the action is to replace the damaged components and verify cooling passages and clearances. Thermal damage means the high-temperature exposure has degraded materials and fit, so continuing with the same parts is unsafe and could fail in operation. Replacing the damaged components restores the hot section to design specifications, while checking cooling passages ensures there are no blockages or distortions that could lead to insufficient cooling and new hot spots. Verifying clearances ensures rotor-stator gaps remain within tolerance, since overheating can alter dimensions and cause rubbing or imbalance. Exterior re-coating does not address internal damage, and rebalancing alone cannot fix distorted parts or compromised cooling and clearance paths.