Hundreds of aircraft have been grounded, some for
the second time, by a recall of Textron-Lycoming engines, and an emergency AD
issued by the FAA.
The company says the crankshafts in about 900 TIO-540 and LTIO-540 300 (or
greater) horsepower engines could fail.
The FAA holds somewhere near 1,800 serial numbers representative of inferior
crankshafts.
Textron said the recall applies to new engines purchased in the past three years
as well as rebuilds.
What’s sure to gall some owners is that some crankshafts installed under an AD
issued in February of this year might be on the list of suspect parts and have
to go back ... again.
The new AD was issued after the fatal crash of a Piper Malibu Mirage in Michigan
earlier this month plus 17 other reported crankshaft failures.
The FAA is estimating it will take up to eight months to replace all the
crankshafts.
Lycoming will cover the cost of removal, shipping, repair and reinstallation of
the engines.
Many of the affected aircraft are in commercial service and that any
compensation for business losses “will be handled on an individual basis,”
Textron said.