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From this week's issue of AvFlash....

TCM MOVES TO EXPEDITE CRANK INSPECTIONS...
After a week of mixed signals that had many affected owners hopping mad,
Teledyne Continental Motors seems to be getting its act together on
crankshaft inspections mandated by Critical Service Bulletin 99-3 and by
FAA Airworthiness Directive 99-09-17.  TCM has doubled the number of
inspection technicians from 10 to 20, with more in training, and will
release schedules advising when inspectors will be at designated FBOs
around the country.  Schedules will be updated weekly.  Also, TCM will
conduct inspections on a full-time basis at its facility in Fairhope,
Ala. (4R4), and is considering other full-time locations.

...AND MINIMIZE OWNER PAIN
TCM also said it will offer an extra six months of warranty coverage for
affected factory engines.  The company plans to mail details to owners
who have contacted TCM to arrange CSB 99-3 inspections and post them at
on its Web site <http://www.tcmlink.com/recent.htm>.  At deadline, less
than half of the 3,000 affected 470-, 520- and 550-series engines with
crankshafts built in 1998 had been registered in TCM's contact database.
Owners who haven't yet done so are urged to call 1-888-200-7565 or to
complete the online contact form at <http://www.tcmlink.com/form.html>.

ANOTHER POWERPLANT, ANOTHER PROBLEM: LYCOMING'S LATEST...
Textron Lycoming can take little comfort in TCM's problems.  As AVweb
readers know, the company has been struggling with abnormally-high wear
of piston pin plugs in numerous engine models.  The company issued SI
1492A recommending that owners conduct oil filter inspection and oil
analysis to catch the problem before it gets serious.

...LONGER WARRANTIES, MORE HELP
Now, Lycoming has extended its warranty to deal specifically with piston
pin plug wear.  Any engine damage stemming from excessive wear of the
piston pin plugs installed in Lycoming cylinders in new, remanufactured
or overhauled engines or in cylinder kits and from piston pin plug spare
parts shipped from Textron Lycoming on or after January 1, 1996, will be
covered under a full three-year warranty from the in-service date, or to
TBO, whichever comes first.

LML homepage:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html