On July 3, 2002, the Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) requested information about the NTSB's investigation into a series of Lycoming crankshaft failures, following a crankshaft separation failure of an Australian-registered Piper Chieftain airplane that resulted in an in flight engine shutdown. The crankshaft failure was characteristic of the failure mode confirmed in 15 other units and is the subject of a Lycoming crankshaft recall Airworthiness Directive (AD 2002-19-03). The ATSB requested information concerning Lycoming's fleet management plan. The National Transportation Safety Board represents the United States in aviation investigations involving overseas interests under the provisions of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Aviation. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, Civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel.: (61) 2 6274-6464 (61) 2 6257-4150 E-mail: atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au Fax: (61) 2 6274-6474 AFTN: ASCOYLYX Website: http://www.atsb.gov.au This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for, or released by, the Government of Australia.