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FAA orders fuselage inspections for Boeing 737 Max for possible cracks
The directive will affect about 471 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, with inspections beginning in September.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness directive ordering Boeing 737 Max operators to inspect the aircraft fuselages for possible cracks in a component, after similar issues were found on earlier Boeing 737 models, Guardian Business reports.
The FAA estimates the directive will cover about 471 aircraft and says the checks will begin in September, following an inspection regime previously applied to 737 Next Generation models.
Cracks have been identified on older 737s in a part called the bear strap, which supports the fuselage around the exit doors. The FAA said no such cracks have yet been found on 737 Max aircraft, but the similar design and manufacturing process makes the model susceptible to developing them, and it warned that inaction could compromise structural integrity.
Boeing said it has been working with airlines operating 737s for several years, after first identifying and notifying operators about the issue in 2019. The company added that the mandated inspections provide multiple opportunities to identify and fix problems before cracks reach critical length, while it works on engineering changes to address the cause.