The bulletin
Text extracted from the PDF.
SPECIAL
AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION
BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. NE-01-36 August 15, 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 -360 series engines, that contain replacement crankshafts that were installed between May 1, 1997 and April 30, 2000. This SAIB applies to engines that were shipped from the factory new, repaired, overhauled, or rebuilt and to engines with crankshafts that were purchased as Textron Lycoming spare crankshafts.
Background Textron Lycoming has reported the manufacture and shipment of engine crankshafts that had a heat-treat operation omitted. They found 5 crankshaft failures and one nonconforming crankshaft failure in the field; and 8 nonconforming crankshafts at its facility. Textron Lycoming is now checking all crankshafts during production. If left undetected, the crankshaft could fail resulting in an engine seizure and an in-flight shutdown.
Textron Lycoming issued Special Advisories (numbers 62-1200 and 63-1200) to inspect suspect helicopter engines, and SB 549, March 23, 2001, to inspect engines on fixed wing aircraft (SB 549 also contains 10 helicopter engines because their owners are unknown). SB 549 provides for a nondestructive inspection of the crankshaft that only requires removal of the propeller to be accomplished – no further engine disassembly is required. Textron Lycoming’s certified technicians perform the inspection from selected maintenance facilities worldwide under a Textron Lycoming Warranty Program that expires October 31, 2001. After this date, they will perform the inspections, but at the owner’s expense.
Recommendations We highly recommend that you, an owner or operator of Textron Lycoming -360 series engines, have these engines inspected in accordance with Textron Lycoming SB 549 to prevent failure of the crankshafts. Textron Lycoming advised us that they cannot identify all applicable engines affected by SB 549. Attachment I of SB 549 contains all known engine models and serial numbers with Textron Lycoming replacement crankshafts installed between May 1, 1997 and April 30, 2000.
Crankshafts sold as spares by Textron Lycoming may not be included in attachment I of SB 549.
For copies of SB 549, contact Textron Lycoming at, 652 Oliver Street, Williamsport, PA 17701, phone: (570) 323-6181. You can access SB 549 on the internet at http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main.html For Further Information Contact Norm Perenson, FAA New York ACO, ANE-171, 10 5th Street, Valley Stream, NY 11581- 1200; phone: (516) 256-7537; fax: (516) 568-2716; email: norman.perenson@faa.gov