Home | Direct-Mounted Oil Filter Adapters – Lycoming/Donaldson Versus Superior Air Parts

Direct-Mounted Oil Filter Adapters – Lycoming/Donaldson Versus Superior Air Parts

The FAA has just issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (NE-10-27), coupled with a Superior Air Parts Service Letter L09-01 A, addressing the filters used on the Superior-branded oil filter adapter. I will attempt to include the full text of each in this Article.

PLEASE NOTE! THESE WARNINGS DO NOT APPLY TO THE LYCOMING KIT USING THE DONALDSON-MANUFACTURED ADAPTER! The Lycoming-Donaldson part is a cast adapter. Those of you who have purchased an oil filter adapter kit from the BAC Classifieds have received the Lycoming-Donaldson part, and the correct Champion CH48110-1 filter. This adapter has a threaded receptacle for the stud, which is a part of the filter itself.

The Superior-branded adapter is a machined part. The threaded filter-mounting stud is a part of the adapter, rather than being on the filter. This adapter is designed for filters normally used on Continental engines; the filter contains the bypass valve. These oil filters have a threaded hole, rather than a threaded stud. Evidently at least one owner (or mechanic) removed the threaded stud from a Superior adapter, in order to use the Lycoming-style oil filters (having the stud on the filter). When the filter clogged (or the oil was too cold), no oil got to the engine due to the absence of the bypass function.

Editors Note: The same warning on the Superior adapter also applies to the ADC (and I believe the Wolf) remote adapters as well. The remote adapters do not include a bypass valve so you must use a filter with built-in bypass. If you have a remote adapter you should be threading a hole on the filter onto the stud on the adapter. I know this is true for the ADC remote, somebody please correct me on the Wolf if I am wrong.


  • SAIB: NE-10-27
    SUBJ: Reciprocating Engine Oil System Date: April 20, 2010
    This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

    Introduction
    This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners, operators, and certificated repair facilities of potential problems when an incorrect oil filter is installed on Superior Air Parts, Inc. (SAP) oil filter adapter, part number (P/N) SL2157, which can be installed on certain Lycoming Engines reciprocating engines. At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

    Background
    The FAA has received one report of an incorrect oil filter installed on an SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157. The incorrect oil filter did not have an internal oil pressure by-pass valve. This caused oil starvation of the aircraft engine. Currently, only Champion CH48108-1 or CH48109-1, or Tempest AA48108 or AA48109 oil filters are eligible for installation on SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157. Only oil filters with an internal oil pressure by-pass valve can be used with the SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157.

    The SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157, was originally approved for use on SAP SV-360 engine models listed on Type Certificate Data Sheet E00001SC. A list of Lycoming Engines reciprocating engine models that are eligible for having this adapter installed, is in the attached SAP Service Letter L09-01 A.

    Recommendations
    If you determine, through either examination of the oil filter adapter or your records, that an SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157, is installed on your Lycoming Engines reciprocating engine, only install eligible oil filters that have an internal oil pressure by-pass valve.

    Do not modify SAP oil filter adapter, P/N SL2157, to accept any other oil filters. Reference attached SAP Service Letter L09-01 A.

    For Further Information Contact
    Peter W. Hakala, Aerospace Engineer, Special Certification Office, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Ft. Worth, TX 76137-4298; phone: (817) 222-5145; fax: (817) 222-5785; e-mail: (email in PDF)

    For Related Service Information ContactCarl Johnson, Superior Air Parts, Technical Support, 621 S. Royal Lane, Coppell, TX 75019; phone: (972) 829-4689; e-mail: (email in PDF).

Thank you for adding to the resources available for your Fellow BAC Members.