[bmurrish]

I just got this off aero-news:

When It Rains, It Pours... Another Lycoming AD

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21331; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-07-AD; Amendment
39-14605; AD 2006-10-21]
ANN is looking over yet another Lycoming AD that was just published to the
Federal Register, affecting a number of Lycoming 360 and 540 series engines,
using ECi connecting rods.

According to the FAA, it is "adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Lycoming Engines (formerly Textron Lycoming) 360 and 540 series
reciprocating engines with ECi connecting rods, part number (P/N) AEL11750,
installed. The Airmotive Engineering Corp, Division of Engine Components
Incorporated (ECi), holds the Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for the
affected parts, and markets the parts as ECi parts."

"This AD requires replacing certain lot and serial numbered connecting rods,
P/N AEL11750, having forging part number AEL11488. This AD would also
prohibit installing certain ECi connecting rods, P/N AEL11750, into any
Lycoming 360 or 540 series reciprocating engines. This AD results from
reports of connecting rods with excessive variation in circularity of the
journal bores. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue failure of the
connecting rod and a possible uncommanded shutdown of the engine."

The AD becomes effective June 22, 2006.

In its final ruling, the FAA also addresses the comments made by many pilots
that such an airworthiness directive is not needed, based on the relatively
few incidents reported.

"Several commenters question the need for the connecting rod AD," the FAA
stated. "We disagree. We confirmed that a manufacturing defect existed in
the ECi connecting rods. The FAA has determined that this defect was the
most probable cause of an engine shutdown and forced landing incident."

"ECi identified the manufacturing process deficiencies that were responsible
for the defective condition and took specific actions to correct these
deficiencies. We also determined that the subject ECi connecting rods in
service could possess these manufacturing defects and could, therefore, fail
during operation."

FMI: http://dms.dot.gov, AD 2006-10-21
aero-news.net

 

[Ironflight]

Reading the AD....

Of course, this one interests all of us that have ECI-component motors!

I went over to teh FAA site and foudn the AD (top of the "Recent AD's" list), and if I read it corectly, even if you have the "affected" rods installed, you don't have to do anything about it until 2,000 time in service, or engine overhaul. (Of course, if you don't have a "Lycoming" serial number and data plate, you don't legaly have to do anything, but I will be be keeping an eye open for any additional connecting rod failures over the next few years to see if the failure that prompted the AD repeats itself!)


Here is the meat of the text from the AD itself:

Engines Not Repaired or Overhauled Since New

(f) If your engine has not been overhauled or had any repair since new, no further action is required.

Engines Overhauled or Repaired Since New

(g) If your engine was overhauled or repaired since new, do the following:

(1) Before further flight inspect the maintenance records and engine logbook to determine if the overhaul or repair facility used ECi connecting rods, P/N AEL11750.

(2) If the connecting rods are not ECi, P/N AEL11750, no further action is required.

(3) If the connecting rods are ECi, P/N AEL11750, and if the serial number is 54/7 or higher, no further action is required. (Note: 54 is the lot number and 7 is the serial number of the ECi connecting rod.)

(4) If the connecting rods are ECi, P/N AEL11750, having forging P/N AEL11488 in raised letters on the web of the beam, and if the serial number is 54/6 or lower, do the following:

(i) If the connecting rod has 2,000 or more hours time-in- service (TIS), replace the connecting rod with a connecting rod that has a lot number 55 or higher, or that has a P/N not specified in this AD, within 50 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD.

(ii) If the connecting rod has fewer than 2,000 hours TIS, replace the connecting rod with a connecting rod that has a lot number 55 or higher, or that has a P/N not specified in this AD, at the next engine overhaul, or next accessibility of the connecting rod, but no later than 2,000 hours TIS on the connecting rod.

(iii) For the purpose of this AD, connecting rod accessibility is defined as any maintenance action in which a cylinder assembly is removed for maintenance.

(h) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any ECi connecting rod, P/N AEL11750, that has SN 54/6 or lower into any engine.

 

[Ironflight]

Mattituck (and Mahlon) Rules!

I dropped a quick note to Mahlon this morning to ask if they had the build records on my TMX-360, and could tell if my rods were affected or not. It didn't take him more than 30 minutes to come back with an answer!

(And nope, mine aren't from the bad lot...)

Thanks Mahlon!

Paul