In a letter sent to distributors last week (see link below), Continental Motors aimed to ease concerns about the FAA’s recently proposed airworthiness directive for ECi cylinders, noting that “no Continental Motors factory-new/rebuilt engines or parts are affected.” Continental said it has never used the ECi cylinders, so owners “can be confident that no AEC [Airmotive Engineering Corp., a sister company of ECi] or ECi cylinder(s) has ever shipped from Continental Motors on engines or aftermarket spare parts.” However, if aftermarket cylinders were installed after engine shipment from the factory, verification with ECi should be made, the company said. The FAA said its proposed directive could affect up to 6,000 Continental engines.
Continental also said it is increasing production of its 520/550 cylinders “in order to meet potential demand” that would be created if the AD takes effect as proposed. Last week, AVweb editorial director Paul Bertorelli took a closer look at the proposed AD. AOPA and EAA are at work on detailed responses to the FAA proposal. As of Tuesday, 53 comments have been filed in the FAA docket.
