Lycoming Crankshaft "Retirements"

[SkyHawk-N]

If you own a Lycoming powered aircraft it's probably best to check out their latest announcement concerning the "retirement" of certain crankshafts.

http://www.lycoming.textron.com/main.jsp?bodyPage=serviceBulletin569/index.html

MODELS AFFECTED: Any Lycoming engine model specified below manufactured, rebuilt,
overhauled, or repaired after March 1, 1997:
Lycoming counterweighted (L)O-360, (L)IO-360, HIO-360 and AEIO-
360 engines described in Section 1.
Lycoming IO-390 and AEIO-390 engines described in Section 2.
Lycoming O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540 and (L)TIO-540 engines described
in Section 3.
Lycoming IO-580 and AEIO-580 engines described in Section 4.
Lycoming IO-720 engines described in Section 5.
Lycoming crankshafts with a crankshaft serial number listed in Table 5
shipped as a spare after March 1, 1997. These crankshafts may have been
installed in any of the engine models listed above.

[IO540]

This one will catch most IO-360 and IO-540 engines made between 1997 and 2002, and some of those that got new cranks under the previous schemes.

It's disgusting for Lyco to not pay for the engine removal, dismantling etc - even though they offer a new crank and bearings for a "mere" $2000.

Luckily, they claim, none of the 5100 or so cranks being recalled under this phase have actually snapped, yet. And they have all been in service several years at least.

It's a mandatory SB to replace the crank by 2009, or earlier if the engine is opened for some other reason. This isn't actually mandatory under FAA Part 91. I don't know the JAA position. What everybody is fearing is that this may become an AD.

Very little of UK's GA scene will be affected - most of it is a few decades too old.

[Cusco]

Could be a good time to go 'diesel'
Cusco:8

[IO540]

Out of the frying pan straight into the oven :O