Sun, Nov 30, 2008
Defective Parts Used On Widebody Jets, Too
Boeing, reporting just two weeks ago that defective fasteners
had been used in the assembly of its 737s, now has announced the
same parts have been used in its 747s, 767s and 777s.
Despite causing further production delays caused by inspection
for and replacement of the fasteners, Boeing spokeswoman Beverly J.
Holland said customer concern is focused on "what are we doing to
assure that this does not happen again. Nobody wants a plane to be
delivered with noncomforming parts," she said.
Used to secure bundles of wires and other components to the
inside of fuselages, the suspect nutplates lack an anti-corrosive
cadmium coating. Installed by Wichita's Spirit Aerosystems, the
parts came from one of its three suppliers, Spirit spokesman
Kenneth Evans said.
As ANN reported, the uncoated fasteners had
been in use since August 2007, but were not discovered by Spirit
until late August 2008, when Boeing was notified about the
problem.
Boeing knew from an early stage that widebody jets as well as
737s were affected, Holland said, but had initially disclosed the
problem only with the smaller jets because "that's where the major
impact was," according to Associated Press reports.
Although Boeing states that there is no immediate safety issue,
a total of 476 aircraft already in service have the defective
parts, including 113 of the widebody planes. Holland said Boeing
and the FAA are likely to determine guidelines for their
inspection.
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