CAAC: Over 450 Boeing 737 have potential safety hazards
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on March 15 ordered all domestic airlines to inspect Boeing 737 aircraft due to a potential safety hazard which could lead to loss of airplane control. It is believed that over 450 of the aircraft could have the problem.
The potential safety hazards are involved with only the 600, 700, 700C, 800, 900 and -900ER models of the Boeing 737 series, and the emergency airworthiness directive issued by the CAAC indicates that the safety hazards of the Boeing 737 aircraft are so serious that each airline must make inspections according to the directive, said the Department of Airworthiness Certification under the CAAC North China Regional Administration on March 16.
Emergency airworthiness directive
CAAC's emergency airworthiness directive stipulates that the inspection is aimed at preventing the lug bearings of the control structure for elevator tabs from becoming loose, which will cause unexpected turbulence. The problem will bring about the failure of the elevators or horizontal stabilizers, leading to a loss of aircraft control and structural integrity. The CAAC ordered airlines to make the inspections after receiving the directive and forward reports to Boeing within 10 days after the inspections. If airlines have already completed the inspections before receiving the directive, they should forward the reports within 10 days after receiving the directive.
On March 2, Ryanair's 737-800 aircraft traveling from the Netherlands to Madrid, Spain experienced severe turbulence in flight and temporarily landed in Belgium. A subsequent inspection found extensive damage to the left elevator of the horizontal tail. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to perform emergency inspections of the wing control structure on some Boeing 737 aircraft.
Over 450 jets involved
Statistics show that the Boeing 737 aircraft constitute the majority of the fleet of China's airline companies, totaling over 603 aircraft as of February 2010. The aircraft involved in this incident exceed 450 units, of which, the Boeing 700 totals 134 units mainly distributed in Air China (20), China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines (45), China Southern Airlines (31), and Xiamen Airlines (15); the Boeing 800 totals 318 units mainly distributed in Air China (64), China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines (42), China Southern Airlines (50), Hainan Airlines (65), Xiamen Airlines (35), Shandong Airlines (19), and Shenzhen Airlines (33); and the Boeing 900 totals 5 units, all in Shenzhen Airlines (5).
Airlines in Macao do not operate the Boeing 737; Hong Kong Airlines operates 7 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and the Hong Kong Express Airways operates 1 Boeing 737-300F; China Airlines operates 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and a 737-800 aircraft has been specially adapted for use by the local government in Taiwan.
Boeing's China branch told reporters that Boeing stands ready to provide technical support for the airlines.
