To All

The critical bulletin is CSB-02-2B.  I got a copy of it at Osh Kosh.  
Continental wants us to check for an oil leak every 25 hours until the engine
has 250 hours.  The bulletin also says to check the nut on the back of the
shaft with a wrench.  You should be able to actually turn the engine over.  
If it turns without the Prop moving, the shaft is broken.  There is a series
of part numbers (located on the starter adapter) that are affected by the
bulletin.  The shaft that has broken has a groove for a Clip that is no
longer used in this assembly.  In addition the rear cover with the rear
bushing in it has some slop in the attachment holes.  Continental believes
that if the cover is misaligned it can cause stress on the shaft which can
cause a failure at the groove in the shaft.

In production they have replaced the shaft with a version that does not have
the groove.  In addition they have redesigned the cover so that it is aligned
with dowel pins.

My engine is affected by the bulletin and has zero hours.  I talked to
Continental and they wanted me to go thru the 25 hour inspection process and
initially would not authorize replacement of the affected parts.  After many
discussions with Continental  they have finally authorized replacement under
warranty.  It is apparent to me that the only reason they finally agreed to
do it was that my engine has never been started and that I refused to take no
for an answer.

Tom Byrnes Lancair IV N54TB  99.9%  finished only 4% to go