FAA issues AD for ECi cylinders on Lycoming engines
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) requiring the replacement of certain ECi "Classic Cast" cylinder assemblies installed on Lycoming 320-, 360-, and 540-series parallel valve engines.
"The cylinders are installed on more than 1,500 Lycoming engines in the United States," said Luis Gutierrez, AOPA director of certification policy. "ECi has indicated they might allow a credit for returned cylinders toward the purchase of new ECi cylinder assemblies."
The FAA took the action because of the failure of some 30 installed cylinders (P/N AEL65102) due to metal fatigue. The agency is requiring that the affected cylinders be replaced within 800 hours in service.
The FAA estimates that the required parts will cost $1,000 per cylinder assembly. Engine inspection will run about two hours, and actual cylinder replacement will take about 12 hours for a four-cylinder engine and 16 hours for a six-cylinder engine. By the FAA's estimates, replacing all four cylinders on the typical Lycoming 360 would cost about $4,900.
January 9, 2006
