“FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Boeing 737NG Models Following Fatal Incident”

Accident – death – Obituary News : The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States has recently proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) that specifically targets certain models of Boeing aircraft. The affected models include the 737–600, –700, –700C, –800, –900, and –900ER series airplanes.

This proposed AD comes in response to two engine fan blade-out (FBO) incidents, both of which resulted in the separation of engine inlet cowl and fan cowl parts from the aircraft. These incidents caused significant damage to the fuselage, led to a loss of pressurization, and required emergency descents.

Tragically, one of these engine failures resulted in a passenger being sucked out of her seat due to explosive decompression. This incident occurred in April 2018 when a Southwest Boeing 737-700, registered as N772SW, was operating flight SW1380 between New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Dallas Love Field (DAL).

As a result of these FBO events, cracks were discovered in the primary exhaust nozzle. These cracks pose additional risks, including the potential detachment of the primary exhaust nozzle, which could potentially damage a stabilizer or impact the fuselage and windows. To address these safety concerns, the proposed AD outlines mandatory measures for the affected aircraft.

The key provisions of the proposed AD include an inspection or a thorough examination of maintenance records to determine if the primary exhaust nozzle has an affected part number. For aircraft identified as having the affected part, the AD mandates the installation of bridge brackets onto the primary exhaust nozzle. Alternatively, operators have the option to install a serviceable primary exhaust nozzle.

In addition to these specific modifications, the proposed AD requires a revision of the existing maintenance or inspection program to incorporate new airworthiness limitations. These measures are intended to mitigate the identified safety risks and ensure the continued airworthiness of the Boeing 737NG fleet.

The FAA emphasizes that the proposed AD aims to address the unsafe condition observed in these aircraft models and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. They encourage the aviation community to provide feedback during the comment period, which concludes on January 26, 2024.

Following this comment period, affected operators are expected to implement the necessary modifications to comply with the new airworthiness directive by the specified deadline of July 31, 2028.

According to the FAA’s estimates, a total of 1,215 aircraft in the US registry will be affected by this AD.

This proposed AD highlights the FAA’s commitment to aviation safety and their proactive approach to addressing potential risks. By implementing these mandatory measures, they aim to ensure the continued safety and airworthiness of the Boeing 737NG fleet..