The entry must include those items specified in § 43.9(a)(1) through (a)(4). The person accomplishing the AD is required by § 43.9 to record AD compliance. DocumentationįAA Advisory Circular AC 39-7D addresses the documentation for airworthiness directives, including the following: Getting a technician with the required equipment out to inspect four aircraft on the same day is much more cost-effective than trying to book an inspection for a single aircraft. This has been especially true of the Piper Aircraft wing spar AD, which requires special equipment to do eddy current inspection of the spar bolt holes. Additionally, time gives you the opportunity to get together with other owners to schedule joint maintenance or purchase parts in bulk. At the SB stage, there may still be time to schedule inspections or procure parts before schedules get booked up and shortages affect parts availability. When an AD comes out, there is usually a mad dash for the maintenance resources to meet the AD requirements. Scheduling is one of the best ways you can help yourself manage the cost of AD compliance. If you stay “in the know” regarding what may be coming down the road, you can look for efficient ways to address problems. Type clubs are a great resource in this matter, as they routinely advocate on behalf of owners with the FAA and are often on the front lines during the AD creation process. Information is power, because you can use it to get ahead of the curve by inspecting or addressing issues on your timetable, rather than one that is mandated by the FAA. While SBs are optional for Part 91 operators, they can give you advance warning of issues that may evolve into ADs. With the exception of emergency ADs, the process for creating an AD is a fairly lengthy one that frequently begins with a service bulletin. However, there are things that you can do to mitigate the impact and cost of an AD when it comes your way. As an owner, you cannot control the existence of ADs that apply to your aircraft. Most ADs in general aviation result in the owner bearing the burden of compliance, which can be extraordinarily expensive. Unfortunately, this is not the typical case with ADs.
Although this AD is a significant inconvenience to affected owners, I am not aware of any injuries associated with the issue, and the cost of compliance is covered by Continental.
The company even shipped out critical tools required to do the work within days of the AD publication. To the company’s credit, Continental took action rapidly after the situation was discovered, has been very forthright with its communications, and is offering generous warranty terms for the work required to comply with the AD. This condition could allow the counterweight to depart from the crankshaft during engine operation, resulting in catastrophic engine damage. According to the associated Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB23-01A), Continental discovered a potential assembly error whereby one or more counterweight retaining rings were not properly seated in the crankshaft counterweight groove.
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