Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16309 · Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 Series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. (R-RM) IO-240-A Reciprocating Engines
Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 Series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. (R-RM) IO-240-A Reciprocating Engines
This AD applies to all Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series and Rolls-Royce Motors, Ltd. (R-RM) IO-240-A reciprocating engines with hydraulic lifters, part numbers (P/Ns) 657913, 657915, or 657916, installed. These engines are installed on, but not limited to, general aviation airplanes.
The FAA is superseding an existing emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2009-24-52 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of TCM 240, 360, 470, 520, and 550 series reciprocating engines. That AD requires before further flight, replacing certain part number (P/N) hydraulic lifters. This AD results from TCM reporting another occurrence of rapid wear on the face of hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, and 657916, and from the need to expand the applicability of this AD to include the TCM 346 series reciprocating engines and the R-RM IO-240-A reciprocating engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive hydraulic lifter wear, which can result in loss of engine power and loss of control of the airplane.
You are responsible for having the actions required by this AD performed before further flight after the effective date of this AD, unless the actions have already been done.
If your engine was manufactured or rebuilt before June 19, 2009, and you have not had any hydraulic lifters replaced after June 19, 2009, no action is required.
If your engine was manufactured or rebuilt on or after June 19, 2009, or if any of your hydraulic lifters were replaced on or after June 19, 2009, and you can't determine the P/N of your hydraulic lifters from the engine records:
(1) Use the list of engine serial numbers in Section A of TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 2009.
(2) Inspect the hydraulic lifters in each cylinder for P/Ns 657913, 657915, and 657916. Use TCM MSB No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 2009, Section I. Action Required, paragraphs 1. through 3. to determine the P/N of the lifters.
If your engine has any affected hydraulic lifters, replace the hydraulic lifters using TCM MSB No. MSB09-8A, dated December 4, 2009, Step 2, paragraphs 2.a.1) through 2.b.4).
(i) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any hydraulic lifters, P/Ns 657913, 657915, or 657916, into any TCM 240, 346, 360, 470, 520, or 550 series or R-RM IO-240-A reciprocating engine.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
