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FAA Orders Inspections Of Boeing 767 Due To Pylon Fatigue Cracking |
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July 23, 2010 – The FAA has ordered U.S. operators of 138 Boeing 767 airplanes to reduce the initial pylon inspection time mandated in a September 22, 2005 Airworthiness Directive from 10,000 to 8,000 total flights.
This inspection
must be done within 400 flights after the most recent inspection
required by the 2005 directive, or within 90 days, whichever occurs
later.
Boeing reported
last month would make recommendations for frequent pylon inspections
after mechanics at American Airlines discovered cracks on one jet. A
Pylon failure could cause an engine to fall from the wing where it is
attached. Fatigue cracking in the primary strut structure could result in reduced structural integrity of the strut and consequent separation of the strut and engine. |
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Because of the
FAA’s requirement to promote safe flight of civil aircraft and thus,
the critical need to ensure the structural integrity of the pylon
structure and midspar fittings and the short compliance time
involved with this action, this AD was issued.
The FAA received
two reports of cracks in the midspar fitting tangs. The first report
indicated severed upper and lower tangs at the aft two fastener
locations in the Number 1 pylon inboard midspar fitting. The cracks were
found during a routine check of a Model 767-300 airplane at
approximately 92,205 total flight hours and 14,969 total flight cycles.
This airplane had
incurred 408 flight cycles from the previous inspection. The second
report indicated cracks in the Number 1 pylon inboard midspar fitting
lower tang, between the aft two fastener holes, on a Model 767-300
airplane at approximately 94,176 total flight hours and 15,405 total
flight cycles. This airplane had incurred 830 cycles from the previous
inspection.
The Immediately
Adopted AD affects 138 U.S.-registered airplanes out of 314 worldwide.
The total cost to |
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