SAIB CE-03-51

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

No. CE-03-51 August 22, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at www.airweb.faa.gov This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of POLSKIE ZAKLADY PZL M18A model airplanes modified by installing a Lycoming T53-L7A and Hamilton Standard 53C51 model propeller approved under an FAA Form 337 “Field Approval” process.

Applicable Airplane Model List: PZL M18 series

Background Recently, the FAA has been made aware that certain owners and operators of POLSKIE ZAKLADY PZL M18A model agricultural use airplanes certificated to 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23, have modified their airplanes by removing the existing radial piston engine and associated propeller, and installing an uncertificated Lycoming T53-L7A turboprop engine and Hamilton Standard 53C51 model propeller with associated systems. The source of the engine, propeller, and associated systems are surplus military OV-1B “Mohawk” model airplanes. The modifications have been granted FAA Form 337 “Field Approvals” for operation in the restricted category.

The FAA is aware that six airplanes have been modified in this way and have been granted FAA Approvals without complete findings of compliance to the following regulations:

• 14 CFR Part 23 Subpart-Powerplant (General)

• 23.901(e)(1),(2) Installation

• 23.903(a)(1,)(2),(f),(g) Engines

• 23.905(a) Propellers

• 23.907(a)(1),(2),(3) Propeller vibration

• 23.955(f) Fuel Flow

• 23.1155 Turbine engine reverse thrust and propeller pitch settings below the flight regime

It should be noted that there may also be non-compliance with other applicable airworthiness regulations.

2 Recommendation These modifications violate the 14 CFR Part 23 requirements for the use of certificated engines and certificated propellers in 14 CFR Part 23 airplanes, as well as other certification requirements. All owners/operators of PZL M18 model series airplanes who have modified their airplanes in this way should be aware of the potential certification deficiencies, which could lead to an unsafe airworthiness condition. It is recommended that these modifications be removed, and the affected airplanes returned to a proper FAA Approved configuration.

For Further Information Contact Tim Smyth, Senior Aerospace Engineer, FAA Chicago ACO, Propulsion Branch, ACE-118C, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL, 60018; phone: (847) 294-7132, fax: (847) 294-7834, email:

timothy.smyth@faa.gov