FAA Fines Boeing For Knowingly Installing Faulty Slat Tracks

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/...y-slat-tracks/

FAA Fines Boeing For Knowingly Installing Faulty Slat Tracks
Paul Bertorelli December 7, 201913

The FAA Friday proposed a $3.9 million fine against Boeing for
knowingly installing non-conforming components on about 133 737s,
including the troubled MAX models. In a statement, the agency said
Boeing “failed to adequately oversee its suppliers to ensure they
complied with the company’s quality assurance system.”

The FAA said Boeing’s QA failure resulted in the installation of slat
tracks weakened by hydrogen embrittlement that occurred during
cadmium-titanium plating of the parts. The FAA contends that Boeing
knowingly submitted aircraft for final FAA airworthiness certification
after determining that the parts didn’t meet its own strength
requirements.

The FAA said the slat tracks were processed by Southwest United
Industries, a Boeing third-tier supplier. After learning that Boeing
certified 48 aircraft with the faulty tracks between Aug. 16, 2018,
and Oct. 9, 2018, and an additional 85 aircraft during the fall of
2018 and spring of 2019, the FAA issued an AD in June 2019. It
mandated inspections to identify the faulty tracks.

The agency said “identification of the defective parts was hindered
because SUI did not apply a protective coating over the part
identification mark that is required to be displayed on the slat
tracks. As a result, those part identification marks became either
obscured or invisible, making it difficult to identify the affected
parts.”

Boeing has 30 days to respond to the FAA’s civil penalty proposal of
$3.916 million.
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https://www.federalregister.gov/docu...pany-airplanes
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
A Rule by the Federal Aviation Administration on 06/10/2019


DOCUMENT DETAILS
Printed version:
PDF
Publication Date:
06/10/2019
Agencies:
Federal Aviation Administration
Dates:
This AD is effective June 10, 2019.
Effective Date:
06/10/2019
Document Type:
Rule
Document Citation:
84 FR 26743
Page:
26743-26746 (4 pages)
CFR:
14 CFR 39
Agency/Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FAA-2019-0409
Product Identifier 2019-NM-092-AD
Amendment 39-19649
AD 2019-11-03
RIN:
2120-AA64
Document Number:
2019-12221
DOCUMENT DETAILS
DOCUMENT STATISTICS
Page views:
1,341
as of 12/09/2019 at 2:15 pm EST
DOCUMENT STATISTICS
ENHANCED CONTENT
Regulations.gov Logo
Docket Number:
FAA-2019-0409
Docket Name:
Airworthiness Directives: The Boeing Company Airplanes, 2019-NM-092-AD
Docket RIN
2120-AA64
Supporting/Related Materials:
Regulatory Evaluation, Record of Discussion
RB-737-27A1312-00
ENHANCED CONTENT
PUBLISHED DOCUMENT
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:
Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:
The FAA is adopting an airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The
Boeing Company Model 737-700C, -800, and -900ER series airplanes. This
AD requires a maintenance records check to determine if any main slat
track assembly has been removed, an inspection of the main slat track
assemblies for a suspect lot number or a lot number that cannot be
determined, and applicable on-condition actions. This AD was prompted
by a report that certain main slat track assemblies were manufactured
incorrectly and are affected by hydrogen embrittlement. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:
This AD is effective June 10, 2019.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 10,
2019.