Pushrod Shroud Spring Retainers, Engine Components Part No. AEL14995, for Lycoming Engines 320, 360, and 540 Series Engines

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FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: NE-13-06 SUBJ: Pushrod Shroud Spring Retainers, Engine Components Part No. AEL14995, for Lycoming Engines 320, 360, and 540 Series Engines Date: November 21, 2012 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners, operators, and certified repair facilities of an airworthiness concern regarding certain pushrod shroud spring retainers, manufactured by Engine Components International (ECi). The pushrod shroud spring retainers, part number (P/N) AEL14995, may be installed on Lycoming Engines O-320, IO-320, O-360, IO-360, O-540, and IO- 540 series reciprocating parallel valve engines.

Background

The ECi P/N AEL14995 pushrod shroud spring retainers are a parts manufacturer approval (PMA) replacement for the Lycoming Engines P/N LW-14995 “Shroud Tube Retaining Springs.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received reports that several of the ECi pushrod shroud spring retainers, P/N AEL14995, have failed. The failure of the spring retainer can cause the pushrod tube or shroud to become loose and possibly leak oil. ECi has redesigned the P/N AEL14995 pushrod shroud spring retainers, and the FAA recommends the earlier design made from heat treated carbon steel be removed from service.

At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) Part 39.

Recommendations

ECi Service Instruction, SI No.12-1, dated October 29, 2012, shows how to identify the older designed pushrod shroud spring retainers. If your parallel valve Lycoming Engines 320, 360, or 540 series engine was overhauled using an ECi overhaul gasket set that included the AEL14995 pushrod shroud spring retainer, review ECi SI 12-1, “AEL14995 Pushrod Shroud Spring Retainer (Clip).”

Although this airworthiness concern does not warrant mandatory action, if the old design pushrod shroud spring retainers are identified, the FAA recommends replacing the old design pushrod shroud spring retainers with new spring retainers. If the retainer spring is found to be broken or cracked, replace it with an approved part as required by 14 CFR Section 91.405(a).

For Further Information Contact

Peter W. Hakala, Aerospace Engineer, Special Certification Office, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; Telephone: (817) 222-5145; fax: (222) 222-5785; e-mail: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

Bryon Denton, Airmotive Engineering Division of ECi, 9403 Middlex Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78217; Telephone: (210) 820-2475; fax: (210) 820-2451; e-mail: [email protected].