DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA-2016-0069; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-01-AD] 

RIN 2120-AA64 

[4910-13-P] 

Airworthiness Directivesj Continental Motors, Inc. Reciprocating Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulernaking (NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSI0-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, TSI0-550-C, 

TSIOF-550-D, and TSI0-550-N reciprocating engines. This proposed AD was prompted 

by a report of an llllcommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) resulting in injuries and 

significant airplane damage. This proposed AD would require replacing the oil cooler 

cross fitting assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the oil cooler cross 

fitting and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by [INSERT DATE 60 

DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE Federal Register]. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 

and 11.45, by any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulernaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202-493-2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 

20590. 
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in this AD contact Continental Motors, Inc., 

2039 Broad Street, Mobile, Alabama 36615; phone: 800-326-0089; Internet: 

http://W\VW.continentalmotors.aero. You may view this service information at the FAA, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District A venue, Burlington, MA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://WViW.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. F AA-2016-0069; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the 

AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hopper, Aerospace Engineer, 

Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 Columbia A venue, College Park, GA 

30337; phone: 404-474-5535; fax: 404-474-5606; email: scott.hopper@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this 

NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include "Docket No. F AA-2016-0069; Directorate Identifier 20 16-NE-01-AD" at the 

beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will consider all 

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comments received by the closing date and may amend this NPRM because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we receive, without change, to 

http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 

also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we receive about this 

NPRM. 

Discussion 

A Cirrus SR-22T crashed on November 3, 2015 due to an uncommanded IFSD. 

The crash caused four minor personal injuries and substantial airplane damage. The root 

cause of the engine IFSD was the loss of engine oil through the fatigue-induced fracture 

of an oil cooler cross fitting nipple. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure 

of the oil cooler cross fitting and engine, IFSD, and loss of the airplane. 

Relevant Service Information under 1 CFR Part 51 

We reviewed CMI Critical Service Bulletin (CSB) No. CSB15-2C, dated 

November 9, 2015 and CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10,2015. The CSBs 

describe detailed procedures for replacing oil cooler cross fittings, nipples, and bushings 

with a redesigned oil cooler cross fitting. 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 of this docmnent. 

FAA's Determination 

We are proposing this NPRM because we evaluated all the relevant information 

and detennined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 

other products of the same type design. 

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Proposed AD Requirements 

This NPRM would require accomplishing the actions specified in the service 

information described previously, except as discussed under "Differences Between this 

Proposed AD and the Service Information." 

Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Service Information 

CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 requires replacing the oil 

cooler cross fitting, nipple, and bushing prior to further flight. CMI CSB No. CSB15-2C, 

dated November 9, 2015 requires replacing the oil cooler cross fitting, nipple, and 

bushing within 25 hours of engine operation or at the next scheduled inspection or engine 

service, whichever occurs first. This proposed AD requires replacing the fitting at the 

next engine maintenance event not to exceed 12 months or I 00 flight hours after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD affects 1,307 engines installed on airplanes of 

U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 1 hour per engine to comply with 

this proposed AD. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Parts would cost about $0 per 

engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this proposed AD to U.S. 

operators to be $111,095. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage. 

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. 

We are 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 

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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 

We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a "significant rule" under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

( 44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and 

( 4) 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 Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA 

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: 

PART 39 -AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 

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

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

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§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends§ 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

Continental Motors, Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Teledyne Continental 

Motors) Reciprocating Engines: Docket No. FAA-2016-0069; Directorate 

Identifier 2016-NE-0 l-AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE Federal Register]. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSI0-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, 

TSI0-550-C, TSIOF-550-D, and TSI0-550-N reciprocating engines with an engine serial 

number below 1012296 and an oil cooler cross fitting, part number AN918-1J, installed. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown 

(IFSD) resulting in injuries and significant airplane damage. We are issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of the oil cooler cross fitting and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. 

(1) Within 12 months or 100 flight hours from the effective date of the AD, 

whichever occurs first, replace the oil cooler cross fitting, nipple, and bushing. Use the 

Action Required paragraphs III.1 through III.8 of CMI Critical Service Bulletin (CSB) 

No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 or the Action Required paragraphs III.l 

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through 111.8 ofCMI CSB No. CSB15-2C, dated November 9, 2015, to perform the 

replacement. 

(2) Reserved. 

(f) Credit for Previous Actions 

You may take credit for the replacement that is required by paragraph (e) of this 

AD, if the replacement was performed before the effective date ofthis AD using CMI 

CSB No. CSB15R2B, dated November 6, 2015 or earlier versions; or CSB No. CSB15-7, 

dated November 6, 2015. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) 

The Manager, Atlanta Certification Office, FAA, may approve Alv10Cs for this 

AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make your request. 

(h) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Scott Hopper, Aerospace 

Engineer, Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College 

Park, GA 30337; phone: 404-474-5535; fax: 404-474-5606; email: 

scott.hopper@faa.gov. 

(2) CMI CSB No. CSB15-7A, dated November 10, 2015 and CMI CSB No. 

CSB15-2C, dated November 9, 2015 can be obtained from CMI using the contact 

information in paragraph (h)(3) of this AD. 

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Continental Motors, 

Inc., 2039 Broad Street, Mobile, Alabama 36615; phone: 800-326-0089; Internet: 

http://www.continentalmotors.aero. 

( 4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & Propeller 

Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125. 

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Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2016. 

Colleen M. D'Alessandro, 

Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

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