AD/LYC/100 - Piston Pin P/N LW-14077

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 106, was enacted to ensure the safety of civil aviation in Australia. The regulations are administered by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aim to provide a robust framework for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft. One such regulation is the Airworthiness Directive (AD) related to Textron Lycoming piston engines. This directive, AD/LYC/100, was introduced in response to safety concerns identified by the manufacturer regarding certain piston pins released between 15 December 1995 and 17 September 1996. The primary objective of this directive is to mitigate the risk of engine failure by mandating the removal of specific piston pins that do not meet the required specifications. The directive requires the removal of piston pins marked with the code 17328, and applies to engines and piston pin kits within certain time frames and conditions to ensure compliance and safety in civil aviation operations.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Schedule of Airworthiness Directives, specifically AD/LYC/100 concerning Textron Lycoming piston engines, applies to a range of engines, parts, and components produced within a specified timeframe. This directive is applicable to all Textron Lycoming piston engines identified by model and serial number in Textron Lycoming Service Bulletin Number 527B, which were released between 15 December 1995 and 17 September 1996. It also applies to any Textron Lycoming piston engines currently in service that have had piston pins with part number LW-14077 installed since 15 December 1995, as well as all cylinder kits for Textron Lycoming piston engines, regardless of the cylinder manufacturer, and Textron Lycoming piston pins P/N LW-14077 released during the specified period. The directive mandates the removal from service of all piston pins P/N LW-14077 that are marked with the code 17328 to prevent potential engine failure. Compliance with this directive requires the removal of specified piston pins within 50 hours of service after 2 January 1997 for applicable engines and before installation in an aircraft for cylinder kits and piston pins. This directive extends its reach across the Commonwealth of Australia, governed by the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, and applies uniformly to all entities and persons involved in the manufacture, maintenance, and operation of Textron Lycoming piston engines within the country.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under Part 39, specifically address the airworthiness directives for Textron Lycoming piston engines, particularly those with piston pins part number (P/N) LW-14077, as outlined in AD/LYC/100 (1). This directive mandates the removal of certain piston pins from service to ensure safety in air travel. The applicability of this directive covers all Textron Lycoming piston engines released between 15 December 1995 and 17 September 1996, as well as any engines that have had these specific piston pins installed since 15 December 1995 (1.1). Additionally, it extends to all cylinder kits for Textron Lycoming piston engines, irrespective of the manufacturer, and the piston pins P/N LW-14077 released in the specified period (1.2, 1.3, 1.4). The directive imposes clear obligations on the parties involved. For engines already in service, the directive requires the removal of piston pins P/N LW-14077 that are marked with the code 17328 within 50 hours of time in service after 2 January 1997 (1.1, 1.2). For engines not yet in service, or for cylinder kits, the piston pins must be removed prior to their installation in an aircraft (1.3, 1.4). This requirement ensures that any engine utilising these piston pins complies with safety standards before being introduced into service. Breach of these directives can result in serious consequences. The potential for engine failure due to non-compliance could lead to significant safety risks, potentially resulting in accidents or incidents. While the regulations do not explicitly state penalties, non-compliance with airworthiness directives can lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which may include fines, suspension of airworthiness certificates, or other regulatory actions. These consequences underscore the importance of adhering to the directives to maintain the highest standards of aviation safety.