The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that Textron
Lycoming review the practice during assembly of applying
anti-galling compounds to the backs of connecting rod bearing
inserts with respect to its affect on the safety margin for engine
operation of the bearing insert retention forces achieved during
assembly.
Textron Lycoming did not specifically respond to recommendation
R20010256, but on 12 February 2002, in comment with respect to the
content of the ATSB's final report stated; "Lycoming does not
concur with the specific findings in ATSB report 200002157 that
attribute the failure of the left engine to the presence of
anti-seize compound between the bearing and the connecting rod
journal."
