AD/LYC/97 - Connecting Rod Bolt Inspection

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, address various aspects of civil aviation safety, including the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (ADs). One such AD, AD/LYC/97, pertains specifically to the inspection of connecting rod bolts in Lycoming piston engines. This directive was introduced to address the problem of engine failures due to the use of unapproved connecting rod bolts, which were found not to meet material or design specifications. The policy objective is to ensure the airworthiness of these engines by mandating inspections and, where necessary, the replacement of unapproved bolts to prevent future failures. Compliance with this directive is mandatory, with the requirement to conduct the inspections before further flight, effective from 31 March 1995. The directive references relevant documentation, including the FAA Priority Letter Airworthiness Directive 95-07-1 and Superior Air Parts Service Bulletin No. 95-002, to provide further details and guidance on the implementation of the directive.

Scope and Application

The Lycoming Piston Engines Connecting Rod Bolt Inspection Airworthiness Directive (AD) applies to specific Textron Lycoming reciprocating engine models, which were assembled on or after 15 February 1994, and contain connecting rod bolts shipped from Superior Air Parts, Inc., on or after 15 February 1994. This includes various engine models such as O-360, IO-360, AIO-360, LO-360, HIO-360, LIO-360, TIO-360, AEIO-360, O-540, IO-540, TIO-540, LTIO-540, IVO-540, AEIO-540, TIO-541, and IO-720. The directive is issued under the Commonwealth of Australia Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 – 106, which mandates compliance by operators and owners of these engines within the national jurisdiction. The AD stipulates a series of checks and inspections to be conducted on the connecting rod bolts to ensure they meet specific identification and approval criteria, with exemptions for certain engines and bolts as outlined in the requirements. Non-compliance with this directive before further flight is not permitted, effective from 31 March 1995. The directive extends its application through subordinate instruments and references related FAA and Superior Air Parts Service Bulletins for additional information.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of this legislation, under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 106, mandate specific actions regarding the inspection and potential replacement of connecting rod bolts in certain Textron Lycoming reciprocating engines. Section 1 requires the review of engine records to ascertain whether the engine was assembled before 15 February 1994, is a first-run engine, a remanufactured engine from Textron Lycoming, or contains connecting rod bolts that meet specific criteria, such as those purchased before or after certain dates, or those not replaced since 14 February 1994. If these criteria are met, no further action is required, and a statement should be recorded in the engine log book. Section 2 necessitates the removal of cylinders for engines that do not meet the criteria in Section 1, to visually inspect each connecting rod bolt to determine if the bolt head is marked with specific identifiers indicating it is a Textron Lycoming part or a satisfactory part manufactured by Superior Air Parts, Inc. or Aircraft Technologies, Inc. If the bolts meet the specified criteria, no further action is necessary, and a statement should be recorded in the engine log book. Section 3 requires the removal and replacement of unapproved connecting rod bolts with serviceable parts if they cannot be positively identified as specified in Sections 1 or 2. The obligations imposed by this Act primarily revolve around the inspection and potential replacement of connecting rod bolts in Textron Lycoming engines. Operators and owners must review engine records to determine compliance with the outlined criteria and ensure that any required inspections and replacements are conducted before further flight. This includes documenting the findings and actions taken in the engine log book. Additionally, operators and owners must ensure that the engines are not flown until the necessary actions have been completed. The legislation outlines several potential consequences for non-compliance. Specifically, failure to adhere to the requirements for inspecting and potentially replacing connecting rod bolts in Textron Lycoming engines can result in serious safety risks, including engine failure during flight. While the legislation does not specify civil or criminal penalties, non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which may include fines or other sanctions. Additionally, failure to comply with the Airworthiness Directive could result in the grounding of affected aircraft, potentially leading to significant operational disruptions and financial losses for operators and owners.