SAIB CE-02-09

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. CE-02-09 December 31, 2001 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is to alert you, owners/operators of Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM ) models IO-360-C, -CB, -G, -GB and –LB engines of the recommendation to inspect and replace, as necessary, the starter adapter bevel gear. This information is advisory in nature and not mandated by regulation.

Background Investigation of a recent incident in which a Cessna model 337 experienced a loss of the vacuum pump on the rear engine revealed that the cause was related to an excessively worn bevel gear, P/N 632617. The gear had worn in a relatively short time-in-service (TIS), and further investigation indicated that this condition could be traced to a material hardness production change made in 1998.

TCM Service Bulletin, SB01-5, issued on October 18, 2001, provides instructions for the inspection of the bevel gear. Initial inspection should be accomplished within the next 25 hours TIS with repetitive 50 hours TIS inspections until bevel gear P/N 632617 is replaced with bevel gear P/N 655919 or starter adapter P/N 646220A54 or subsequent is installed. The suspect gears were installed in starter adapter assembly, P/N 646220A38, purchased from TCM from August 1998 to present and were sold individually as service spares during the same time frame. The service bulletin has a table listing the model and serial numbers of engines produced during this time frame.

Recommendation Based on currently available information, we only recommend the following actions. However, we will continue this investigation and additional actions, such as issuance of an Airworthiness Directive, may be found to be warranted based on analysis of new information.

We recommend performing the initial/repetitive inspections and replacement, if necessary, specified in TCM SB01-5.

Copies of TCM SB01-5 may be obtained by calling the TCM Customer Service Department at (888) 221-6442 and leaving your name and address; the bulletin will be mailed as soon as possible. Alternatively, you may contact the Service Department by mail at: Teledyne Continental Motors, P.O. Box 90, Mobile, AL 36601. In addition, the complete text of SB01-5 is available on the TCM website at: www.TCMLINK.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Jerry Robinette, Aerospace Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1895 Phoenix Boulevard, One Crown Center, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30349; telephone (770) 703-6096, fax (770) 703-6097, email: Jerry.Robinette@faa.gov