If you’ve been watching closely over the past few years, you may have noticed several Airworthiness Directives (ADs) from the FAA concerning replacement cylinders for popular GA piston engines. Depending on the engine, the cylinder’s manufacturer and when it was installed, an applicable AD may require removal and replacement within 25 operating hours. At a minimum, it will mandate frequent inspections.
Most recently, the FAA proposed yet another AD, this one potentially targeting more than 60,000 Engine Components International (ECI) cylinders for replacement, affecting some 6000 aircraft and costing owners and operators more than $82 million. The AD targets cylinder head cracks and cylinder head-to-barrel separations and results, at least in part, from an NTSB recommendation to the FAA made earlier this year.
