BUNDABERG, AUSTRALIA — Jabiru, Australia’s premier manufacturer of Light
Sport Aircraft and Aero engines, today announced a mandatory service bulletin affecting some crankshafts in 3300 engines issued between April 2017 and Jun 2024. This proactive measure is part of Jabiru’s ongoing commitment to safety and reliability under its recently announced “Operation Bulletproof” initiative.
Jabiru’s engineering team has identified an issue with specific batches of crankshafts that could, in certain circumstances, lead to crankshaft failure. This issue was discovered after a small number of in-service engine failures occurred. Importantly, no injuries have resulted from these incidents. While analysis indicates the overall risk of failure remains low, the potential for engine stoppage necessitates a conservative approach to ensure continued flight safety.
“At Jabiru, safety is non-negotiable,” said Michael Halloran, Director of Jabiru. “Our commitment to our customers extends beyond the sale — we want every Jabiru engine to deliver reliable performance throughout its entire service life. This service bulletin reflects our dedication to continuous improvement and our responsibility as an OEM.”
Based on comprehensive risk analysis using the ASTM F3198 standard, Jabiru has determined that a timeframe over 2025 and 2026 for crankshaft replacement is appropriate for engines over 150 hours TTIS.
Replacement priority will be determined by Jabiru based on its risk analysis. It is important that all owners and operators of affected engines contact Jabiru with their current engine hours to ensure proper prioritization. For affected crankshafts, Jabiru will provide replacement components at no cost to owners, along with support through its network of Dealers.
This action aligns with the company’s “Operation Bulletproof” program announced earlier this month, which aims to make Jabiru’s Gen 4 engines “perform with the same unwavering dependability as Jabiru aircraft”. As part of this initiative, Jabiru has already implemented an important manufacturing change, reverting to machining crankshafts from solid billet. This process allows for testing of material properties prior to manufacturing, ensuring the integrity of each crankshaft before production begins.
Aircraft owners can verify if their engine is affected by checking the engine serial number against the list provided in Service Bulletin JSB046 at this link: https://jabiru.aero/service-bulletins-letters/.
Jabiru is Australia’s premier manufacturer of Light Sport Aircraft and Aero engines. It has delivered
more aircraft and engines than any organisation in Australia’s history and is flying in over 50
countries. Jabiru products have an excellent safety record and we continue to evolve through
design, quality and education our commitment to our fleet.
Air. Craft. isn’t just a play on words; it’s a declaration of our commitment to tomorrow’s flyers.
