Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company Engine Oil Filter Adapter Assemblies Installed on Aircraft

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) engine oil filter adapter assemblies installed on aircraft. This action requires inspecting the oil filter and adapter assembly (or torque putty, if installed) for oil leakage and proper installation of the adapter retaining nut and fretting of associated threads (security), and replacing any oil filter adapter assembly with security problems; applying torque putty between the engine filter adapter assembly, nut, and oil pump housing (unless already equipped with torque putty); and repetitively inspecting the torque putty for misalignment, evidence of oil leakage, or torque putty cracks, and reinspecting the oil filter and adapter assembly threads if misalignment, evidence of oil leakage, or torque putty cracks are found. Reports of loose or separated engine oil filter adapters on several airplanes prompted this action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of engine oil caused by loose or separated oil filter adapters, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in engine stoppage while in flight and loss of control of the airplane.