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Jack Hickham
Hilton Head Island SC
N10UU
IVP 99.9% Complete
----- Original Message -----
From: <PhyllisHHI@aol.com>
To: <hickham@hargray.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 8:10 AM
Subject: No Subject


>
>
>
>  Summaries only   Full stories
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Fri, Aug 16 2002
>
> Massive Lycoming Recall/Emergency AD
>
> ANN has learned that a massive recall of Lycoming crankshafts will idle
> nearly a thousand airplanes right away. An FAA Emergency AD Notice is also
> expected momentarily. The FAA claims that "a variation in the heat
treatment
> process used during production of the crankshafts appears to be the cause
for
> the metallurgical deficiency that may have led to crankshaft failure."
> Lycoming has already issued Service Bulletin SB 552, which applies "only
to
> TIO and LTIO-540 engines rated at 300 horsepower or higher," manufactured
> between 1999 and 2002. Worse; engines with replacement crankshafts
installed
> under AD 2002-04-51, issued just last February, may also be affected.
> The majority of the costs of the recall will reportedly be borne by
Lycoming
> who promises that "When Lycoming receives a SB-552 affected engine, it
will
> be disassembled, inspected and scheduled for reassembly that includes a
new
> crankshaft, new bearings, all consumables and replacement of any internal
> part that does not meet Lycoming’s standards. Lycoming has set up a
dedicated
> assembly line that will run three shifts, seven days a week. Engines will
be
> returned to service meeting all technical and quality criteria of the Type
> Certificate."
> This action reportedly affects, most of all, a number of Piper Navajos,
> Malibu Mirages, Piper Saratogas, and Cessna Turbo Stationaires. The
> forthcoming Emergency AD is intended to prevent crankshaft failure and
> subsequent catastrophic engine failure and was instigated by a fatal
Malibu
> Mirage accident in Michigan, earlier this month.
> Unfortunately; estimates indicate that it could take up to eight months
for
> Lycomng to build the necessary crankshafts... with priority given to
aircraft
> with special needs.
> Lycoming will prioritize the repair of engines as follows:
>
>
> 1.
> Federal, State and Municipal facilities, especially those involved in
> Homeland Security;
>
> 2.
> FAR Part 121 operators (scheduled carriers);
>
> 3.
> FAR Part 135 operators (commuter and on-demand operations);
>
> 4.
> FAR Part 91 operators (flight training and general operations).
> Owners of all affected aircraft are required to replace affected
crankshafts
> prior to further flight and are instructed to contact Lycoming at
> 570/323-6181 for additional info. Those requiring ferry permits to move
their
> aircraft to facilities appropriate to the removal and eventual
reinstallation
> of these affected crankshafts, will need to contact FAA for the required
> permit needed to operate these aircraft legally in light of the Emergency
AD.
>