New MSB about to be issued

[steden]

It takes 900 hours to replace pistons (p/n E4A-72-400-000) ,now it is just MM update to add this requirement, I do not know whether it is related to MSB-E4-039.

[NAGartinez]

Hey everyone, just curious, has anyone already had their pistons replaced as part of the warranty? Or does the AD have to come out first?

[nworthin]

Hey everyone, just curious, has anyone already had their pistons replaced as part of the warranty? Or does the AD have to come out first?

The MSP applies now. But, for the moment at least, the response to an out of spec metals (AL) count is replacement of the engine core, not replacement of pistons.

[Irmchen]

HI i´m new here from Germany

I legally accepted my new DA40NG in July 2022 and picked it up from Diamond Industries in Wiener Neustadt in August 2022. There was no mention of the piston problems, although the problems were known and it was likely that I would take delivery of a new aircraft with a faulty engine.
I am now being charged with this service bulletin during my 2 year warranty period.
With an oil analysis, there is always uncertainty as to whether the aircraft is affected and will be grounded.
Permanent additional cost to fly every 50 hours for maintenance.
The depreciation of the aircraft. …
Who has the same destiny as me? Who hired a lawyer? What does he say?
Is there positive news from others who have a similar starting point as me?
... And: Does anyone know since when the piston problems are internal known to DI´s?
That has to be much earlier than Oktober 2022.

Please write me a personal message.

[photoSteveZ]

HI i´m new here from Germany

I legally accepted my new DA40NG in July 2022 and picked it up from Diamond Industries in Wiener Neustadt in August 2022. There was no mention of the piston problems, although the problems were known and it was likely that I would take delivery of a new aircraft with a faulty engine.
I am now being charged with this service bulletin during my 2 year warranty period.
With an oil analysis, there is always uncertainty as to whether the aircraft is affected and will be grounded.
Permanent additional cost to fly every 50 hours for maintenance.
The depreciation of the aircraft. …
Who has the same destiny as me? Who hired a lawyer? What does he say?
Is there positive news from others who have a similar starting point as me?
... And: Does anyone know since when the piston problems are internal known to DI´s?
That has to be much earlier than Oktober 2022.

Please write me a personal message.

My situation is a little different, since I have a 62 and took delivery two months earlier than you: for twins, the oil analysis interval remains 100hr.

Notwithstanding that we Americans are generally viewed as excessively litigious, allow me argue a less confrontational position. In my opinion, Diamond/Austro’s response to the MSB has been undertaken in good faith, and is about as good as an owner could hope for. Austro has been proactively building and shipping engine cores for operators whose engines are nearing or have already passed the MSB time-in-service limits; they have been generous with their labor allowances so the facilities performing the core swaps (or piston swaps, once those kits start shipping) won’t lose money; as more operators approach the limits they will continue pushing out kits in advance; and with a few exceptions for high-time engines this is all happening at no out-of-pocket cost to owners, without regard to warranty status. Unofficially, I have heard that only a handful of engines with time-in-service under the MSB limits (i.e., fewer than five) have failed oil analysis, and that Austro has confidence that other affected engines will reach the MSB limits without problems, and that after complying with the MSB affected engines will be good for the full 1800hr TBR.

This doesn’t address your “what did they know, and when did they know it” questions, but that aside, what more could you ask? It’s in our interest as owners that DAI remains viable and continues to produce and support our engines/aircraft into the future. Recovering from the issues that led to the MSB is already an ‘all hands on deck’, existential threat to DAI. Resale values would surely be more adversely affected if DAI were to go out of business under additional financial pressure from legal actions.

[dmloftus]

Very well said Steve. While it may seem DA40-180, DA20, etc owners need not be concerned, all of our planes' values would be dramatically impacted as well if this problem buried Diamond.