Superior Air Parts Cylinders, The Proposed AD
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sale, Australia
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Superior Air Parts Cylinders, The Proposed AD
The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for specific Superior Air Parts (SAP) cylinder assemblies that may be installed in up to 8,000 aircraft here in the U.S. The engines in question are Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) IO-520, TSIO-520 and IO-550 models. Specific SAP cylinders (identified by part number) installed in those engines may be prone to cracks near the exhaust valve, potentially leading to separation of the cylinder head, structural damage, immediate engine failure, and fire in the engine compartment. The proposed airworthiness directive would require initial and repetitive compression checks for those cylinders that also have acquired more than 750 hours time in service. Some 24 failures have so far been reported to the FAA, half of them by SAP. All of those failures occurred in cylinders with more than 823 hours time since new. The FAA is seeking comments before June 11.
Full info here http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-7711.htm
Full info here http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-7711.htm
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Sounds like that's all they need!
Superior Air Parts were bought last year, I believe, by Thielert, the people who are now in receivership due to dodgy financial practises in Germany.
This could be serious for the people who've shelled out good money on the Superior parts and want some recompense for the failures. The money may not be there anymore!
Superior Air Parts were bought last year, I believe, by Thielert, the people who are now in receivership due to dodgy financial practises in Germany.
This could be serious for the people who've shelled out good money on the Superior parts and want some recompense for the failures. The money may not be there anymore!
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There's already an Airworthiness Bulletin on certain ECI cylinders fitted to the same engines. It requires compression checks and inspection. Not an AD but it still costs the same. 1700 /50= 34 checks required X $150 = another $5100 on top of the $50K initial outlay.
I think my next engine may have Continental cylinders fitted!
Two Dogs
I think my next engine may have Continental cylinders fitted!
Two Dogs
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Location: Perth
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I think my next engine may have Continental cylinders fitted!
Having said that, we have a Superior engine fitted to our Pawnee and it's not put a foot wrong in 600Hrs (But then, probably neither had the Continental replacements)
