Airplanes May Be Returning To Service, But The Investigation Is Still Ongoing

The NTSB has reportedly extended a contract with Chesapeake Defense Services for additional Computed Tomography (CT) scans of batteries similar to those removed Boeing Dreamliners as it continues its investigation into why a battery caught fire aboard one of JAL's 787s in January.

The Board hopes to have the scans completed by May 16.

According to a "sources sought notice" posted by the NTSB May 3, "The NTSB is planning to conduct teardown examinations as soon as possible of several aircraft batteries similar to one involved in an aircraft incident. This urgent requirement is in support of accident investigation DCA13IA037 that occurred in Boston, MA. To facilitate those examinations, CT scans of these batteries and their subcomponents are required to non-destructively determine as much information as possible about those components.

"In addition, batteries and battery cells of the same type which have been subjected to known test conditions will also be scanned. These scans will be conducted both before and after the test conditions are applied. Since these batteries are of the lithium ion type and have substantial shipping restrictions (including a requirement for ground shipping only using specially qualified hazardous materials shippers which would cause a delay of several days to accommodate), these scans need to be conducted at a location close to Washington, D.C. to allow the NTSB to transport the battery to the contractor and thereby avoid shipping and other logistical complications. They must also be completed within the shortest timeframe possible to provide the fastest possible receipt of this information to avoid potential future accidents involving this type of aircraft battery.

"Since the FAA has recently approved a plan intended to result in the Boeing 787 being approved for a return to service, the information from these tests (and the CT scans required to support these tests) is needed as soon as possible. A scan report that documents items such as the x-ray source power used, x-ray focal spot size, detector used, integration time, number of views, image pixel size, slice thickness, total length scanned, number of slices, etc. is due no later than 10 days after the end of the scanning activity. The NTSB has a requirement for CT scanning services to begin on 5/6/2013. Therefore, this requirement is urgent."

Eight Dreamliner-type battery cells will be scanned.

The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that, according to the NTSB,  the original $49,000 contract account had only $1,000 left after the initial scans. The new contract represents an extension of the deal previously reached with Chesapeake Defense Services.

The document indicates that testing is continuing on the battery removed from the JAL Dreamliner which caught fire while sitting at a gate at Boston Logan International Airport, as well as other batteries.

(Images provided by the NTSB)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov