An added streamlining structure or auxiliary member, most often of
light metal, whose only purpose is to reduce drag. Fairings are not
load-bearing and, therefore, are not meant to carry any principal
air loads placed on the airplane structure.
"Although checks were carried out at Bristol, an
opportunity to find the damage was missed. It was only after the
second landing at Manchester that the damage was
discovered."
Source: From a recent report by the British
Department of Transport's Air Accidents Investigation Branch,
regarding a series of incidents stemming from the November 2006
hard landing of a Thomas Cook Airbus A320 in Bristol. The report
says the jet was permitted to keep flying -- twice -- after
damaging its main gear, due to inadequate checks by ground
crews.
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