AD 2022-04-04 Prompted By Reports Of Two Accidents That Were The Result Of Power Loss Due To Oil Starvation

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. C-125, C145, IO-360, IO-470, IO-550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, TSIO-520 series model reciprocating engines and certain Continental Motors IO-520 series model reciprocating engines with a certain oil filter adapter installed.

This AD was prompted by reports of two accidents that were the result of power loss due to oil starvation. This AD requires replacing the oil filter adapter fiber gasket (fiber gasket) with an oil filter adapter copper gasket (copper gasket). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective March 29, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Continental Motors, Inc., and Teledyne Continental Motors) C-125-1, C-125-2, C145-2, C145-2H, IO-360-C, IO-360-D, IO-360-DB, IO-360-H, IO-360-HB, IO-360-K, IO-360-KB, IO-470-E, IO-470-S, IO-550-B, IO-550-G, O-300-B, O-300-C, O-300-D, O-300-E, O-470-A, O-470-B, O-470-G, O-470-J, O-470-K, O-470-L, O-470-M, O-470-N, O-470-R, O-470-S, O-470-U, O-470-11, O-470-15, TSIO-360-E, TSIO-360-EB, TSIO-360-F, TSIO-360-FB, TSIO-360-GB, TSIO-360-LB, TSIO-360-MB, TSIO-360-SB, TSIO-520-C, TSIO-520-CE, TSIO-520-E, TSIO-520-UB model reciprocating engines; and Continental Motors (Type Certificate previously held by Teledyne Continental Motors) IO-520-A, IO-520-B, IO-520-BA, IO-520-BB, IO-520-C, IO-520-D, IO-520-J, and IO-520-L model reciprocating engines.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2021 (86 FR 56658). The NPRM was prompted by reports of two accidents that were the result of power loss due to oil starvation. The first was a fatal accident on May 1, 2019, in Mill Creek California, involving a Cessna 182P airplane with an installed Continental Motors O-470-S engine.

The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary accident investigation report, docket number WPR19FA126, identified evidence of improperly maintained or installed oil filter adapters. An improperly maintained or installed oil filter adapter may lead to failure of the fiber gasket, which may result in oil loss or oil starvation. Based on the investigation, the manufacturer determined the need to replace the fiber gasket with a copper gasket. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require removal of the fiber gasket and replacement with a copper gasket. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMI: www.regulations.gov