Airworthiness Directive 2012-12612

one-time
AD 2012-12612 · 2012-05-24 · reciprocating engine

Airworthiness Directives; Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) Reciprocating Engines

What this AD requires

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) models TSIO-520, TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550K, and IO-550-N series reciprocating engines with new or rebuilt CMI starter adapters installed between January 1, 2011 and November 20, 2011. That AD currently requires replacing affected CMI starter adapters with starter adapters eligible for installation. This AD requires the same actions, but to an expanded population of reciprocating engines. This AD was prompted by two additional reports received of fractures in starter adapter gear shafts in certain additional part number (P/N) CMI starter adapters since we issued the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent starter adapter gear shaft failure which could cause oil scavenge pump failure and engine in-flight shutdown.

Which aircraft AD 2012-12612 applies to

ModelsTSIO-520-B, TSIO-520-BB, TSIO-520-D, TSIO-520-DB, TSIO-520-E, TSIO-520-EB, TSIO-520-J, TSIO-520-JB, TSIO-520-K, TSIO-520-KB, TSIO-520-N, TSIO-520-NB, TSIO-520-UB, TSIO-520-VB, TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, IO-550-N, TSIO-520, TSIO-550, TSIOF-550, IO-550
Part-conditional642085A17, 642085A18, 642085A19, 642085A20, 642085A22, 642085-1A1, R-642085A17, R-642085A18.

Applies to listed engines (IO-550-N limited to Turbo-normalized engines under STC SE10589SC) with one of the listed starter adapter part numbers installed, where the engine was manufactured before November 20, 2011, or a new/rebuilt starter adapter was installed before that date.

Whether AD 2012-12612 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.

How AD compliance is recorded

A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:

Method of complianceThe specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
DateWhen the work was done.
Aircraft timeTotal time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificateThe A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 2012-12612 complied with on your aircraft?

Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.

Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)

Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.