The aircraft model of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the Boeing 777-200ER, is included in a list of Boeing aircraft models that could develop a problem resulting in “loss of structural integrity of the airplane”, according to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Allen Kenitzer, communications and media relations manager of the FAA’s NOrthwest Mountain and Alaska Regions branch said today that any airworthiness directive (AD) it issued for the Boeing 777-200 included the -200ER model unless specifically limited by airplane line number or other distinguishing factors.
He said that the agency’s AD was effective from April 9 next month, and will apply to US operators, but added that Boeing’s own service bulletins were available to all its operators.
“The FAA’s ADs are mandatory only for US operators, but the FAA communicates with foreign airworthiness authorities that are responsible for other operators.
“The AD requires operators to inspect their plans in accordance with Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 777-53A0068 and take corrective action if necessary,” said Kenitzer.
The FAA issued a proposed AD on the 777-200ER after it received a report of cracking in the fuselage skin underneath the satellite communication (Satcom) antenna adaptor.
It said this unsafe condition was likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
“We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking and corrosion in the fuselage skin, which could lead to rapid decompression and loss of structural integrity of the airplane,” it said in a notice of proposed rulemaking issued on Sept 18.
It had listed in this notice that the models affected by the AD are the B777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER and -777F series airplanes.
Story: The Star Online
