FAA Investigates Potential Missed Inspections on Boeing 787 Dreamliners

 


Federal aviation authorities are launching a fresh inquiry into Boeing after the manufacturer revealed potential lapses in inspections on some 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This latest development adds to Boeing's ongoing quality control struggles.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is probing whether Boeing completed mandatory inspections related to electrical safeguards on certain 787s. These inspections focus on bonding and grounding systems where the wings connect to the fuselage, crucial for safe electrical functioning.

Boeing reportedly notified the FAA in April about the possibility of missed inspections. The FAA is now investigating two key aspects:

  1. Verification of Inspections: Did Boeing actually perform the required inspections on all relevant 787s?
  2. Potential Falsification: Were there instances of Boeing employees manipulating aircraft records to falsely indicate completed inspections?

This investigation follows heightened scrutiny by the FAA on Boeing's production processes, triggered by a door plug blowout incident on a 737 MAX jet in January.

The impact on currently operating 787s remains unclear. While Boeing is reinspecting all Dreamliners in production, a plan for addressing the in-service fleet is yet to be finalized. The FAA has not indicated any immediate grounding of passenger jets.

Boeing, however, maintains that the potential misconduct hasn't compromised the safety of currently flying Dreamliners. In an internal communication, Boeing's 787 program chief, Scott Stocker, emphasized that engineering assessments haven't identified any "immediate safety of flight issue."

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