4/13/2009
HEADLINES
Unsealed Fasteners Prompt FAA Action

Non-coated fasteners played a role in the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposal to enhance inspection and repair of thrust reversers on more than 300 planes in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reports.

The issue came to a head when FAA inspectors found that mechanics at American Airlines failed to follow proper techniques to comply with a safety directive related to reverser overhauls on Boeing 777s.

“Mechanics didn’t coat fasteners with a protective sealant against corrosion when reassembling the devices, as called for in the FAA’s instructions,” reports Andy Pasztor of the Journal.

The move by the FAA was part of a sharper focus by U.S. and European aviation regulators on maintenance of the reversers, which are designed to help jets reduce speed after landing.

“The safety issues have prompted extra attention from government and industry experts in recent months, due to a flurry of incidents in which devices called thrust reversers malfunctioned on the ground, or pieces broke off in flight,” Pasztor writes.

There have been eight instances of excessive heat damaging reversers used on Boeing 777s since 2003, despite fixes prescribed by Boeing and the FAA.

Related Links:

• FAA