American says Airbus jets pass inspection

DeltaFlot · 03-18-2002, 12:37 AM

American says Airbus jets pass inspection
March 17, 2002 Posted: 10:01 PM EST (0301 GMT)

TULSA, Oklahoma (CNN) -- American Airlines found no problems in the tail sections of two Airbus A300 jets after an ultrasonic examination, the carrier announced Sunday.

The Federal Aviation Administration and French civil aviation authorities ordered an ultrasonic examination Friday of the vertical stabilizers on six aircraft that may have experienced high stress during wake turbulence or extreme rudder maneuvers.

The ultrasonic equipment allows inspectors to find damage that may not be visible in the non-metallic composite material that makes up the tail sections of A300s.

After an ultrasonic examination of the tail section of an American Airlines Airbus involved in a 1997 incident turned up evidence of damage, the National Transportation Safety Board ordered inspections of the six aircraft.

The NTSB ordered the inspection of the American Airlines Airbus as part of the investigation of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed into a New York City neighborhood last November after its tail section mysteriously fell off. The crashed killed 265 people.

While the NTSB has not determined a cause of that crash, possible damage to the composite material is one of the scenarios being investigated.

The NTSB previously revealed that Flight 587 experienced unusually high force on its tail section, or vertical stabilizer, on takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport. NTSB sources previously speculated this could have been sparked by wake turbulence from a nearby Japan Airlines plane.

In addition to the two American Airlines planes, inspections were also ordered on a FedEx cargo plane and on Airbus A300s operated by Air France, the German military and Tarom, a Romanian airline.

The American Airlines aircraft were inspected at an airline facility in Tulsa. An American Airlines source said the ultrasonic equipment would be moved to FedEx's Memphis headquarters for testing of the FedEx plane.

American currently operates a fleet of 34 A300s, mostly along the Eastern seaboard and in Latin America. The number of Airbus A300s in service worldwide is 242. They began service in 1984, and continue to be manufactured by Airbus today.

As late as January, Airbus maintained that ultrasonic inspections were not needed to assure the safety of A300s. Spokesman Mary Anne Greczyn said Friday the policy was meant to cover only aircraft that have undergone normal operations, not aircraft that have experienced significant stress to their tail sections.

"This is not a major reversal of our policy," she said.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr agreed that this was not a reversal of policy.

"This is a data-gathering effort," he said Friday. "We have one plane whose tail fell off for a still unknown reason. We know that we have another airplane ... that had an event in the past and that now shows sign of some kind of flaw of composite materials in the tail section.

"No one -- at NTSB or the FAA -- has made any conclusions," he added.

JOHN JOHNSON · 03-18-2002, 01:57 AM

I heard that there was a 600lbs male, 400 lbs wife along with their whoppin' 300lbs son and 275 lbs daughter sitting on the end section of an A-300 which caused it to break! then poof.

flick70 · 03-18-2002, 03:50 AM

How not funny JJ.

DavidMich · 03-18-2002, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flick70
How not funny JJ.

Mabey JJ's got something against bigguns?

JOHN JOHNSON · 03-19-2002, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidMich

Mabey JJ's got something against bigguns?

I happen to be a 300lbs!

Did I just said .003 lbs?

Does this explain why DC-10/MD-11 are my favorite?

!

smoothjazz · 03-19-2002, 02:26 AM

I'm glad they did, I would like to see AA buses in the sky for long
time...

Helmsman · 03-19-2002, 04:55 AM

There was a kerfuffle about dodgy spare parts being used by some airlines. This story was linked to the AA story a few weeks ago. Is there still thought to be a connection?

Just how 'close' was the JAL 747? I read that it wasn't really that close and anyway, there are guidelines governing space between aircraft, aren't there?!

03-18-2002, 12:37 AM	#1
DeltaFlot The Patriot Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Laurel, MD Age: 36 Posts: 3,228	American says Airbus jets pass inspection American says Airbus jets pass inspection March 17, 2002 Posted: 10:01 PM EST (0301 GMT) TULSA, Oklahoma (CNN) -- American Airlines found no problems in the tail sections of two Airbus A300 jets after an ultrasonic examination, the carrier announced Sunday. The Federal Aviation Administration and French civil aviation authorities ordered an ultrasonic examination Friday of the vertical stabilizers on six aircraft that may have experienced high stress during wake turbulence or extreme rudder maneuvers. The ultrasonic equipment allows inspectors to find damage that may not be visible in the non-metallic composite material that makes up the tail sections of A300s. After an ultrasonic examination of the tail section of an American Airlines Airbus involved in a 1997 incident turned up evidence of damage, the National Transportation Safety Board ordered inspections of the six aircraft. The NTSB ordered the inspection of the American Airlines Airbus as part of the investigation of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed into a New York City neighborhood last November after its tail section mysteriously fell off. The crashed killed 265 people. While the NTSB has not determined a cause of that crash, possible damage to the composite material is one of the scenarios being investigated. The NTSB previously revealed that Flight 587 experienced unusually high force on its tail section, or vertical stabilizer, on takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport. NTSB sources previously speculated this could have been sparked by wake turbulence from a nearby Japan Airlines plane. In addition to the two American Airlines planes, inspections were also ordered on a FedEx cargo plane and on Airbus A300s operated by Air France, the German military and Tarom, a Romanian airline. The American Airlines aircraft were inspected at an airline facility in Tulsa. An American Airlines source said the ultrasonic equipment would be moved to FedEx's Memphis headquarters for testing of the FedEx plane. American currently operates a fleet of 34 A300s, mostly along the Eastern seaboard and in Latin America. The number of Airbus A300s in service worldwide is 242. They began service in 1984, and continue to be manufactured by Airbus today. As late as January, Airbus maintained that ultrasonic inspections were not needed to assure the safety of A300s. Spokesman Mary Anne Greczyn said Friday the policy was meant to cover only aircraft that have undergone normal operations, not aircraft that have experienced significant stress to their tail sections. "This is not a major reversal of our policy," she said. FAA spokesman Les Dorr agreed that this was not a reversal of policy. "This is a data-gathering effort," he said Friday. "We have one plane whose tail fell off for a still unknown reason. We know that we have another airplane ... that had an event in the past and that now shows sign of some kind of flaw of composite materials in the tail section. "No one -- at NTSB or the FAA -- has made any conclusions," he added. __________________ Febuary 15, 1898 December 7, 1941 June 8, 1967 September 11, 2001 Never Forget, Never Forgive If you kick the Tiger in the arse, you better be able to deal with the Tiger's teeth.

03-18-2002, 01:57 AM	#2
JOHN JOHNSON Mysterious Collector Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,196	Rumors I heard that there was a 600lbs male, 400 lbs wife along with their whoppin' 300lbs son and 275 lbs daughter sitting on the end section of an A-300 which caused it to break! then poof.

03-19-2002, 02:26 AM	#6
smoothjazz More Korean Air in 1/200! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SEOUL KOREA Posts: 6,363	I'm glad they did, I would like to see AA buses in the sky for long time... __________________ BENJAMIN MY COLLECTION http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-1179.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

03-18-2002, 03:50 AM	#3
flick70 Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omaha Age: 38 Posts: 1,042	How not funny JJ.

03-19-2002, 04:55 AM	#7
Helmsman Great Helmet Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chateau Helmsman, Sutton, south of London! Posts: 761	There was a kerfuffle about dodgy spare parts being used by some airlines. This story was linked to the AA story a few weeks ago. Is there still thought to be a connection? Just how 'close' was the JAL 747? I read that it wasn't really that close and anyway, there are guidelines governing space between aircraft, aren't there?!