Published
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FAA Proposes Safety Enhancements for Boeing 737NG Engine Housing
Proposal
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed modifications and additional inspections on nearly 2,000 Boeing planes in the United States, with the aim to prevent incidents similar to the engine-housing breakup that resulted in a passenger’s death on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018. The proposal, largely in line with recommendations Boeing made to airlines in July, would necessitate the replacement of fasteners and other components near the engines of many older Boeing 737s.
Modifications
Airlines are given until the end of July 2028 to implement these changes, which were developed by Boeing. However, these modifications and inspections will not be required for Max jets, the latest model of the 737. The FAA’s proposal is a reaction to two incidents in which parts of the cowling, which covers the engines, detached from planes. The first mishap occurred in 2016, while the fatal accident transpired two years later on a Southwest jet flying over Pennsylvania.
Incidents
In both incidents, the triggering factor was broken fan blades. In the second and more disastrous occurrence, the broken blade struck the engine fan case at a critical juncture, setting off a sequence of events that culminated in the cowling breaking free and hitting the plane. This collision shattered a window and led to the death of a 43-year-old mother of two who was seated next to the window.
Following the fatality, the FAA mandated emergency inspections of fan blades and the replacement of any cracked blades in similar CFM International engines. Notably, the engine manufacturer had suggested increased inspections a year before the fatal flight.
Regulations
On Tuesday, the FAA stated that more regulations are needed to minimize the likelihood of engine-housing parts breaking away in the event of fan blade failures. The new proposal would mandate airlines to replace fasteners on certain planes and install additional parts on all the affected 737s. The FAA has estimated that the proposal would affect 1,979 planes registered in the United States. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted by the agency until January 26.
Recap
To recap, the FAA’s proposal, mostly following Boeing’s recommendations, requires replacing fasteners and other parts near the engines of many older Boeing 737s. This comes after incidents triggered by broken fan blades. After a passenger’s death, the FAA ordered emergency inspections of fan blades and replacement of cracked blades in similar CFM International engines. The FAA now asserts that more regulations are needed to lessen the chance of engine-housing parts breaking away when fan blades fail.