FAA Orders
Modifications on B767 & B747 Fuel Tank Systems
The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday issued two new Airworthiness
Directives (AD) for Boeing 767 and 747 fuel tank systems, to prevent the
risk of ignition.
Both ADs were
prompted by the FAA’s analysis of system reviews, conducted by Boeing, for
the 767/747 fuel systems.
The ADs concern is
for the following planes:
·
747-400,
747-400D and 747-400F
·
767-200,
-300, -300F and -400ER
·
Delta
Boeing 767 Drops Escape Slide on Approach
·
Delta
Boeing 767
Required Actions
The FAA requires
modifications to the Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS). These
modifications are to prevent the development of an ignition source inside
the centre fuel tank, which is due to electrical fault conditions.
“The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent ignition sources inside the centre fuel tank,
which, in combination with flammable fuel vapours, could result in a fuel
tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.”
Operators will
have 72 months, after the effective date of this AD (10th November), to
make the required modifications.
The directives
affect 261 US-registered 767s (255 cargo airplanes, 4 private and 2
experimental airplanes) and 71 747s; different actions are required for
cargo jets.
The fuel-tank
explosion risk caught aviation attention after the in-flight breakup, and
subsequent crash, of TWA flight 800 in 1996, the aircraft for that flight
was a Boeing 747-100. After years of investigation, the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the explosion of the
centre wing fuel tank (CWT) resulted from an ignition of the flammable
fuel/air mixture in the tank.
FAA Also Requires
Inspections to B757 Frame
Yesterday, the FAA
also issued an AD concerning the following aircraft: Boeing 757-200, -200CB
and -300 series.
“The FAA is
issuing this AD to address cracking of the fuselage frame at STA 1640,
which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.”
This directive was
prompted by a report of fatigue cracking found in the fuselage frame at the
station (STA) 1640, which severed the inner chord and web.
This new AD
supersedes an older one and requires the following:
·
An
expanded inspection area to be addressed
·
Additional
inspections to be carried out
·
A
modified inspection type
·
Applicable
repairs to be carried out on the fuselage frame
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