Newsday

AP Top News - 05/25/2000 Teledyne Recalls Plane Engines

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- About 3,000 engines used in small aircraft are being recalled due to crankshaft flaws that could cause propeller engines to fail.

The manufacturer, Teledyne Continental Motors, said Wednesday the flaws haven't caused any crashes, but there have been some forced landings and engines have cracked or broken in some airborne planes. No resulting injuries have been reported.

The crankshafts are used in piston-engine planes, such as older Cessnas.

The recall affects fewer than half of the nearly 8,000 engines made or rebuilt at the Mobile plant between April 1, 1998, and March 31.

A smaller recall was announced last month after Teledyne Continental discovered the problem, which the company blamed on a supply of bad steel.

The company estimates it will cost $12 million to inspect and replace the crankshafts. It has sued its steel suppliers, but refused to identify them.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 25, 2000