Posted on 01/09/2024 5:04:14 PM PST by Red Badger
Investigators say a door plug on Alaska Airlines 1282 came loose from fittings meant to hold it to the plane
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have discovered loose parts on Boeing BA -1.41%decrease; red down pointing triangle 737 MAX 9 jets that they have inspected after a near-catastrophe on a flight Friday, signaling Boeing’s issues go beyond the aircraft that made an emergency landing.
The disclosures came shortly before investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board said that dangerous episode on an Alaska Airlines jet occurred because an emergency exit-sized door plug blew out at around 16,000 feet after somehow moving off a set of stops that are designed to keep it attached to the plane.
The four bolts designed to keep the plug from moving off the stops were missing, they said, adding that they would work to determine whether the bolts had ever even been installed.
United said earlier that its inspections “had found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug—for example, bolts that needed additional tightening.” The airline said the issues would be remedied by maintenance staff as it awaits approval to return the planes to service.
Alaska said earlier that initial reports from technicians preparing the MAX 9 fleet for inspections accessed the plug area and indicated loose hardware was visible on some planes. The carrier has 65 MAX 9 jets. “Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance,” the airline said, referring to the Federal Aviation Administration.
NTSB officials declined Monday to address the flaws found by the airline inspections and said that, while they could broaden their probe, they are still focused on what exactly caused the door plug to move out of position.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
AVIATION PING!.....................
"When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."
Joint engineering is not as tough as Rocket Science.
Seriesly people, I have torque wrenches and know how to use them.
I even have decades of experience in snugging nuts onto bolts by feel.
Boeing turned to crap after merging with McDonnell Douglas.
I see the loose nut!..................
DEI...Diversity...Inclusiveness...
IMHO, all these are contributing to this kind of event...
Vibration creates fastener problems which can be very difficult to solve.
For example, BMW has had continual problems with fasteners related to oil pump drives and cam phasers that went on for amost 20 years.
Even reverse threaded with thread locker would come undone.
Can’t their DEI’s even torque things properly? It’s certainly not the toughest job related to building airplanes.
Filed under: practical consequences of checkbox hires.
Interesting, but just another reason to eschew BMW.
Back in my days in the aviation world, we had “D-Checks”, where we were required to complete gut the aircraft, in order to thoroughly inspect critical areas. Obviously it was a HUGE effort, but thankfully only had to be done every 8 years or so.
I’m getting to think here that non-DEI D-Checks might be required on these planes, as bolts are likely used in multiple places on this plane.
Back in my days in the aviation world, we had QA inspectors that had to sign off on all stages of assembly and record serial numbers of calibrated torque wrenches used and who used it. I guess they don’t do that silly stuff any more...costs time and time is money.................
They likely still have QA’s, but if they’re diverse, then all bets are off regarding the effectiveness of that system.
I think it was specific to high rpm, high output inline six engines (longer crankshaft, more torsional flex) combined with chain drive of camshafts and oil pumps.
Chains create and transmit vibration. I think using rubber belts would have solved it.
The 4 bolts are similar to NAS Close Tolerance NAS6604 spec.
The depression in the bolt head surface, lends an appearance that might lead a person to at first think that they were looking at a nut.
We had one DCAS (government) Inspector, and obvious diversity hire, who was a dumb as a box of rocks, and she was inspecting MILITARY stuff she had no idea what it was or what it was supposed to do...........................
Yes, I realized that after I posted....................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.