SAIB NE-01-32

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. NE-01-32 July 18, 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) alerts you, an owner or operator of Textron Lycoming -320, -360, and -540 series engines , and Repair Stations, FBOs and FSDOs to inspect cylinder heads manufactured by Engine Components, Inc, (ECI) (also known as Airmotive Engineering Company (AEC)) for any evidence of cracking, and to report any incidents of ECI/AEC cylinder head cracking or failures to the FAA.

Background The FAA has received reports of several cracked Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) ECI/AEC cylinder heads on aircraft equipped with Textron Lycoming -320, -360 and -540 series engines. The cracks have been initiating in the exhaust valve seat and propagating along the fin roots of the 11th to the 13th cooling fin (counted from the barrel end of the cylinder head), on the exhaust port side of the cylinder head. These suspect cylinder heads are identified by part numbers AEL 65101 and 65102.

Recommendation The FAA highly recommends that at the next maintenance opportunity, all owners, operators and repair stations, make a visual inspection of ECI/AEC PMA cylinder heads for any cracks or evidence of discoloration around the fins. Because installation of these cylinder heads can be accomplished at different assembly levels, you should also review the engine maintenance records to determine if an ECI/AEC cylinder head has been installed. We request that you report any past or present findings to the FAA point-of-contact provided below.

Please include the following information:

• Hours accumulated on Cylinder head

• Cylinder head serial number

• Aircraft type

• Engine model that the cylinder is installed on

• Type if operation (flight school, personal travel, charter, etc).

For Further Information Contact Richard D. Karanian, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Special Certification Office ASW 190, Fort Worth, TX 76137; email at richard.d.karanian@faa.gov, telephone 817-222-5195, fax 817-222-5785.