photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
jCross | all galleries >> Galleries >> My Words > February 27, 2007
previous | next
28-FEB-2007 John Cross Photography

February 27, 2007

070228_004AP.jpg

The FAA issued an airworthiness directive last week covering certain cylinder assemblies manufactured by Superior Air Parts. I already had the cowling off the Cessna so it was easy to check it. I had to pull the cowling off the Swift to check it. Now what gets my goat is that the %@$*%&# AD could have been much more user friendly if they would have done one simple thing: list the manucafturing dates of the offending cylinder assemblies. Then it would have been a simple thing to determine whether my airplanes were possibly covered by the AD. I know when the cylinders were installed so I would know if that was before the date of manufacture.

Now if you want to really see a waste of official government paper, you will note that there is a multipage list of the airframes the engines could be installed on. The real issue is the particular engine, not the airframe. So they preface the list with the following statement: "These engine models are installed in, but not limited to, the aircraft models listed in the following Table 4:" which, simply stated, means that the list is irrelevant. Jeez, don't you just love the FAA? They could have done the whole applicability statement in one paragraph listing dates of manufacture, Superior part numbers and serial numbers. But, you gotta love them. They try hard.

Canon PowerShot S70
1/60s f/3.2 at 5.8mm full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
jCross15-Nov-2009 12:14
YES, Bob, that is what we do.
Robert Becker15-Nov-2009 04:33
It's that little part of the AD that says "...installed in, but not limited to...." It's best practice to sign the AD off as Not applicable blah, blah so a future log book research is straightforward. Gotta love the FAA. You know their motto...we're not happy until your not happy.
Guest 30-Mar-2007 17:52
Is the date on the oil filter the last time you changed the oil? If so you will be having more than just cylinder problems.
jCross10-Mar-2007 00:22
As nice as our FSDO guys are, its like talking to a scarecrow with them.
Guest 10-Mar-2007 00:02
what?! the FAA is not after my best interest? curses! :OP
Dave Beedon02-Mar-2007 20:25
I love efficiency in all endeavors.
jCross02-Mar-2007 16:16
I checked the Cessna because I wanted to see where the part numbers were located and just make sure.
Guest 02-Mar-2007 15:42
It seems a waste of time to have table 4 since the overwhelming majority of pilots know what engine they have on their plane. The few that don't are the types who wouldn't read AD's anyway.

Why did you have to check the Cessna? The smallest affected Continental engine was the O-470.