FAA seeks information from aircraft owners on certain Continental engines

The 2020 AD was "prompted by reports of in-flight engine failures due to fractured cross-flow cylinder assemblies." The AD required “cylinder head inspection and removal of the casting material build-up on the radius edge of identified cross-flow cylinder heads to reduce the potential for fracture initiation.”

In the airworthiness concern sheet, the FAA said it had "received multiple reports from the field of cracked cylinders despite prior compliance" with the 2020 AD. Affected models include the "GTSIO-520-C, D, H, K, L, M, N; IO-550-G, N, P, R; IOF-550-N, P, R; TSIO-520-BE; TSIO-550-A, B, C, E, G, K, N; and TSIOF-550-D, J, K, P" with cylinder heads produced on or after November 1, 2014, and serial numbers prior to AC18KB277. The FAA estimated that the 2020 AD would affect "4,000 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry."

See the airworthiness concern sheet for the detailed information the FAA seeks. The FAA requests responses within 30 days.