U.S. FAA finalizes Boeing 777 safety directives after fan blade failures -Breaking
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By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday it is finalizing three safety directives for some grounded Boeing (NYSE:) 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines that will allow them to return to service.
New final airworthiness guidelines apply to Boeing 777s, such as the United Airlines 777 which crashed shortly after taking off from Denver in February 2021. It landed with debris all over surrounding cities. The aircraft was returned safely to the airport without any injuries.
The FAA said the new directives, which were proposed in December after three reported in-flight fan blade failures, require enhanced inspections and modifications that will allow Boeing 777-200 and -300 airplanes equipped with those Pratt & Whitney engines to resume flights after being grounded for more than a year.
The first directive calls for debris shields to be installed on the thrust reverser’s inner wall. It also requires inspection of fan cowl doors for moisture intrusion and repeated checks of hydraulic pump shutoff valves. A second directive requires modification of the engine inlet for fan blade failure. A third needs to be corrected based on the inspection findings.
These directives take effect in mid-April.
The agency began inspections on 777-class planes equipped with PW 4000 engines in February 2021. This was after the National Transportation Safety Board had discovered that the United engine’s fan blade was cracked.
United, the U.S. only operator of the PW4000-powered 777s and owns 52, stated that this step was “a safe and good outcome for the industry” and its customers.
According to the airline, “many of these engines have been modified already.” These aircraft will soon be flying again for customers, we expect.”
Boeing will now need to develop a bulletin that outlines the steps required for airlines to comply with requirements. Before the planes are allowed to return to flight, FAA has to approve this bulletin.
Boeing has not yet commented.
Japan Airlines stated in April it had retired its 13-member fleet. Boeing Co PW4000 engine 777s were delivered a year early than expected, after operations had been suspended in February.
In December, the Japanese airline had an accident with its PW4000 engines. A malfunction caused a Tokyo bound JAL777 aircraft to be forced to fly back to Naha Airport in Okinawa.
Only a few older 777s are equipped with the engines, including those operated by JAL and United Airlines Inc, ANA Holdings Inc., Korean Air Lines Co Ltd., Asiana Airlines Inc., Jin Air Co Ltd.
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