DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1159; Project Identifier AD-2022-00692-E;
Amendment 39-22530; AD 2023-17-04]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Aerospace Technologies,
Inc. Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-04-04
for certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (Continental)
Model C-125, C145, IO-360, IO-470, IO-550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, and
TSIO-520 series engines and certain Continental Motors IO-520 series
engines with a certain oil filter adapter installed. AD 2022-04-04
required replacing the oil filter adapter fiber gasket (fiber gasket)
with an oil filter adapter copper gasket (copper gasket). This AD was
prompted by reports of two accidents that were the result of power loss
due to oil starvation. This AD requires replacing the fiber gasket with
a copper gasket or a stainless steel embedded within
polytetrafluoroethylene gasket (stainless steel PTFE gasket). This AD
also revises the applicability to include Continental model engines
equipped with an F&M Enterprises, Inc. (F&M) or a Stratus Tool
Technologies, LLC (Stratus) oil filter adapter installed. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 26, 2023.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 26,
2023.

ADDRESSES:
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2022-1159; or in person at Docket Operations between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD
docket contains this final rule, any comments received, and other
information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Stratus Tool Technologies, LLC, 2208 Air Park Drive,
Burlington, NC 27215; phone: (800) 822-3200; website: tempestplus.com.
You may view this service information at the FAA,
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2022-1159.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Hanlin, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone:
(404) 474-5584; email: 9-ASO-ATLACO-ADs@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2022-04-04, Amendment 39-21945
(87 FR 9435, February 22, 2022) (AD 2022-04-04). AD 2022-04-04 applied
to certain Continental Model C-125, C145, IO-360, IO-470, IO-520, IO-
550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, TSIO-520 series engines with a certain oil
filter adapter installed. The SNPRM published in the Federal Register
on June 2, 2023 (88 FR 36258). The SNPRM was prompted by a comment from
an individual commenter noting that certain engine models were missing
from the applicability in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The
commenter also specified that the referenced service information in the
NPRM has been revised by the manufacturer. In response to this comment,
the FAA determined that additional model engines are affected by the
unsafe condition and, as a result, should be added to the applicability
paragraph of this AD. The FAA also discovered that certain model
engines, with permold type crankcases, were inadvertently included in
the applicability paragraph of the NPRM, which the FAA removed in the
SNPRM. In the SNPRM, the FAA proposed to require replacing the fiber
gasket with a copper or stainless steel PTFE gasket. The FAA also
proposed to revise the applicability to include Continental model
engines equipped with an F&M or a Stratus oil filter adapter installed
per Supplemental Type Certificate SE8409SW, SE09356SC, or SE10348SC. In
addition, the FAA also proposed to include the revised service
information. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition
on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the SNPRM or on the determination
of the costs.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
requires adoption of the AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in
the SNPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Stratus Mandatory Service Bulletin SB-001 Rev C,
dated June 16, 2022, which specifies procedures for removing a fiber
gasket and replacing it with a copper gasket, P/N AN900-28 or P/N
AN900-29, or a stainless steel PTFE gasket, P/N ST07, as an improved
alternative to the copper gasket.
This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 6,300 engines installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, Section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, General requirements.
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA has determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2022-04-04, Amendment 39-21945
(87 FR 9435, February 22, 2022); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: