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Airworthiness Directive 2023-20-03

recurring
Official AD 2023-20-03 · FR doc 2023-24385 · 2023-11-06 · reciprocating engine

Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines

What this AD requires

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 and E4P engines. This AD is prompted by reports of piston failures and the determination that certain batches of pistons were manufactured with a dimensional deviation in the piston pin bore and piston diameter. This AD requires repetitive engine oil analysis for aluminum content outside the acceptable limits and, if necessary, replacement of the pistons, piston rings, con-rods assembly, and crankcase or, as an alternative, replacement of the engine core. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Repetitive inspection. Re-inspect. The next-due date/hours depend on this aircraft’s time in service — a records report computes it from the logbooks.

Which aircraft AD 2023-20-03 applies to

MakesAustro Engine Gmbh
ModelsE4, E4P

Applies only to engines with a serial number listed in Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Austro Engine GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB-E4-039/1, Revision 1, dated April 24, 2023 (MSB-E4-039/1).

Whether AD 2023-20-03 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 compliance — The specific action taken (inspected, replaced, modified) and to what revision.
Date — When the work was done.
Aircraft time — Total time in service / tach at compliance — how recurring next-due is computed.
Signature & certificate — The A&P/IA who returned it to service, with certificate number.
Is AD 2023-20-03 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.