CASA has issued a warning to remove from service certain engine cylinders repaired more than 13 years ago by Challenger Aero Engineering.
Challenger had been using unauthorised people to carry out some repairs, including chrome plating repairs to engine cylinder barrels. The way the cylinder head was replaced after the repair meant there was a risk of fatigue failure, resulting in the cylinder head coming off the barrel.
In 1990 CASA issued an airworthiness directive which required the removal of all suspect Challenger cylinders from service.
However, because there was no requirement to dispose of the cylinders at the time, it is possible some of them could have found their way back into service.
In a new airworthiness bulletin AWB 01-027 dated January 25, 2013, CASA states “the seriousness of the problem cannot be overstressed as some of the subject cylinders were reported as having suffered major defects at the time."
The cylinders in question would have been released after January 1989 and may have markings WB 14 or a CAE prefix number. The AWB calls for all cylinders repaired by Challenger to be removed from service and destroyed.
Read the AWB here.