BREAKING: Boeing and Alaska have found a solution. The problem has been fixed
Never underestimate the power of duct tape.
rwoodvira wrote:
Never underestimate the power of duct tape.
Duct Tape is like The Force.
It has a light side and a dark side,
And binds the Universe together . . . .
Racers don’t call it ‘hundred mile an hour tape’ for nothing…
Or:
A. check to see if those bolts are in place
B. if in place, grab proper wrench and make sure they are TIGHT
C. if not in place, or wrong size, REPLACE AND TIGHTEN THE HELL OUT OF THEM
D. check with design engineers to see if anything else contributed and if so, FIX THAT
Decades ago my father was a ground crew foreman (cleaned plane, stocks consumables etc.) for the old Eastern Airlines at Lambert Field, St Louis. He was also the air field's union rep and state Vice President of the union, so he had a lot of influence/power over the mechanics etc. as well as the people who worked for the other airlines.
His method was inspecting, inspecting, inspecting, fix what needs fixing the right way and then inspect that.
The safety came FIRST, cleanliness second, and stocking food and drink third. Besides, the vendors and the flight attendants could do that part in a pinch. Lambert Field got the reputation of being one of the best in those days.
I wonder if a supplier substituted bolts made in China.
lbrande wrote:
I wonder if a supplier substituted bolts made in China.
Decades ago, the Air Force once had a problem with the tails coming off one type of fighter whose tail assembly was held on by two large bolts. Twin engine plane, the tail assembly slid on rails to cover the rear part of the engines and was held in place by two large bolts. They found the problem was the plane-used US made imperial measurement parts, and someone in the logistics chain tried to save money by ordering Japanese metric bolts.
They were great bolts, but being metric, they "ALMOST" fit. Result, the tail assembly could flex and break the bolts in half then slide back and fall off. The couple of times it happened, it was on landing. The shock of that touch down snapped the bolts. The result was a badly damaged or destroyed plane but thankfully only light or no injuries to the pilots. Aside from maybe needing a change of underwear.
Some old time maintenance Sgt found that the proper sized bolts that the AF was paying over $100 for (the Japanese ones were about 1/2 price) could be bought in a good hardware store for 35 cents each and then tested, with about 75% passing the tests. The AF actually gave the Sgt a bonus for saving them all that money and the occasional airplane.
robertjerl wrote:
Decades ago, the Air Force once had a problem with the tails coming off one type of fighter whose tail assembly was held on by two large bolts. Twin engine plane, the tail assembly slid on rails to cover the rear part of the engines and was held in place by two large bolts. They found the problem was the plane-used US made imperial measurement parts, and someone in the logistics chain tried to save money by ordering Japanese metric bolts.
They were great bolts, but being metric, they "ALMOST" fit. Result, the tail assembly could flex and break the bolts in half then slide back and fall off. The couple of times it happened, it was on landing. The shock of that touch down snapped the bolts. The result was a badly damaged or destroyed plane but thankfully only light or no injuries to the pilots. Aside from maybe needing a change of underwear.
Some old time maintenance Sgt found that the proper sized bolts that the AF was paying over $100 for (the Japanese ones were about 1/2 price) could be bought in a good hardware store for 35 cents each and then tested, with about 75% passing the tests. The AF actually gave the Sgt a bonus for saving them all that money and the occasional airplane.
Decades ago, the Air Force once had a problem with... (
show quote)
A 75& passage rate is not good. It sounds as if the bolts were Fracture Critical which means that there needs to be closer to 95& passage rate with very restrictive inspection requirements as needed for FC bolts and components.
lbrande wrote:
A 75& passage rate is not good. It sounds as if the bolts were Fracture Critical which means that there needs to be closer to 95& passage rate with very restrictive inspection requirements as needed for FC bolts and components.
Yes, but those bolts were 35 cents each in bulk off the shelf of the local hardware store and the time spent testing for both fit and hardness etc. to sort out the 75% came to nowhere near the $100 each for the US ones or the $50 each for the wrong size Japanese metric bolts.
Those 35 cent hardware store bolts were mean for home projects, cars, fences etc. BUT 75% PASSED THE TEST FOR USE ON THE PLANES.
robertjerl wrote:
Yes, but those bolts were 35 cents each in bulk off the shelf of the local hardware store and the time spent testing for both fit and hardness etc. to sort out the 75% came to nowhere near the $100 each for the US ones or the $50 each for the wrong size Japanese metric bolts.
Those 35 cent hardware store bolts were mean for home projects, cars, fences etc. BUT 75% PASSED THE TEST FOR USE ON THE PLANES.
That will not pass for today. I've been involved with fastener testing on the sidelines for 30 years. I've been working with NASA, NGC, LMAC and a few others.
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