Really? And how did you know it was 42psi?
Filter companies routinely test filters for "burst pressure".
They deliberately overpressurize filters to check to see at what point the gasket lets go or the seam on the can bursts. They have to..it's part of the specification of the filter.
Usually they "burst" at about 150-200psi for automotive applications.
For a filter to "blow" off the stud it does take 300-400 psi.
And as you're adamant that the filter blew off at 42psi..then filters would be blowing off every engine out there. Fram or whatever brand.
But Fram should have better explained better what happened in their report. As the engine was on a stand for "break in"...what happened is some contaminant lodged in the oil pressure regulating valve and kept it open. The positive displacement oil pump over pressurized the filter with an instantaneous pressure surge.
Then when the filter blew off..the air in the system caused some back pressure to the regulating valve and the contaminant dislodged and went back into the pan.
I have heard of similar conditions with heavy duty filters ( Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel) where a filter is blown off. They do not have the relief valve in the filter, it's in the head assembly, btw. It can take around 4-500 psi to blow one of those off. Mechanics have gone into the oil pump regulating valve and found chunks of metal lodged there. In some cases 2 or 3 filters blew off..while in the shop...so the mechanics cleaned out the regulating valve..and then any brand of filter would stay on.
But it's much easier to blame one brand of filter than look for the problem. Especially when the problem is so unusal as a filter blowing off.
Imo..the only way a filter would blow off the stud at 42psi is that there was no gasket in the gasket retaining ring on the new filter so the filter wouldn't seal or there was already a gasket on the mounting base that wasn't cleared away before putting on the new filter. But we'll believe your brother did check for that first.
and for your record..i've never worked for Fram or sold their product..