From AV web

[500E]

For those that dont get AV web

AIRCRAFT CARBURETOR, PARTS SHIPMENTS STOPPED

(http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196505)

The company that makes the majority of carburetors and associated

replacement parts for the most popular general aviation engines says

it's stopped shipping as of Nov. 1 because it can't afford the

insurance. Precision Airmotive's MSA carbs are used on most of the

Lycoming, Continental and Franklin engines currently in service and

are also put on new engines. Precision spokesman Alan Jesmer told

AVweb in a podcast interview

(http://www.avweb.com/alm?podcast20071105a&kw=Related) that the action

resulted from the company's being named in numerous lawsuits,

regardless of the involvement of its products in the incidents that

gave rise to the suits. The cost of dealing with the litigation

marginalized the business. "Precision has seen its liability insurance

premiums rise dramatically, to the point that the premium now exceeds

the total sales dollars for this entire product line," he said. Since

the supply of carbs and replacement parts for the majority of

piston-powered aircraft can't simply be allowed to dry up, Jesmer said

Precision's action was a wake-up call to the rest of the industry to

get involved with the issue and he expects some sort of resolution in

the next week or so. http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196505

 

AVWEB'S MONDAY PODCAST (#1 OF 2): INSURANCE COSTS GRIND PRECISION

AIRMOTIVE'S CARB BUSINESS TO A HALT

(http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196517)

If you have a Lycoming, Continental or Franklin engine in your

aircraft, chances are it has an MSA carburetor supplied by Precision

Airmotive, and that means if it needs work in the next little while,

you could be out of luck. Precision Airmotive stopped shipping

carburetors and replacement parts last Wednesday because insurance

costs have become prohibitive. Now, a good portion of the light

aircraft industry can't just grind to a halt because of a carburetor

shortage, so there will be a solution to this issue, likely within a

week or so. Precision Airmotive's Alan Jesmer explained the whole

situation to AVweb's Russ Niles.

http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196517

 

APPEAL COURT RULES ON LYCOMING CRANKSHAFT CASE

(http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196503)

Lycoming has lost elements of its appeal against a 2005 jury verdict

that blamed design faults for a series of crankshaft failures in its

engines. The 14th Court of Appeals in Houston agreed with the earlier

verdict that Lycoming's design was to blame for the failures, but it

set aside a $96 million judgment awarded in the earlier trial to

Navasota, Texas-based Interstate Southwest, which forged the

crankshafts. As AVweb reported

(http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/leadnews/189178-1.html) in 2005,

Interstate sued Lycoming after the engine manufacturer blamed the

failures on problems with Interstate's forging processes. According to

Interstate's lawyer

(http://money.cnn.com:80/news/newsfeeds/art...502112007-1.htm),

Marty Rose, the appeals court decision also nullifies Lycoming's $173

million counterclaim against Interstate. However, Lycoming apparently

doesn't see it the same way. "Lycoming is very pleased that the Court

of Appeals has reversed and rejected all of [interstate Southwest's]

claims for damages in this action and has made clear that Lycoming is

free to pursue its claims for damages against [interstate Southwest]

and [interstate Forging Industries]," the company said in a statement

to AVweb Saturday. Whether that means more legal wranglings are on the

horizon is unclear. http://www.avweb.com/990-full.html#196503

 

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[Goldy]

500- Why should I bother to sign up, when you filter thru it and post it for me ??