USA- Baynews.com writes that four reports indicated that engines on Boeing 737s shut off while the planes were in the air. The faulty part is a critical piece of the aircraft’s engine. Now regulators are warning airlines to check their planes for the part and to replace it to avoid the dangerous issue. The planes […]
Boeing 737 faulty engine part
USA- Baynews.com writes that four reports indicated that engines on Boeing 737s shut off while the planes were in the air. The faulty part is a critical piece of the aircraft’s engine. Now regulators are warning airlines to check their planes for the part and to replace it to avoid the dangerous issue.
The planes are a popular model, and according to the Federal Aviation Administration, there are around 2,000 passenger jets in the United States that are affected by the defective part. Operators were told to look at any planes that were grounded for seven or more days, and that have been flown for under eleven times since they were reintroduced into flight service.
The issue appears to be that engine valves can become stuck open. The issue is a result of corrosion. If the engines are both impacted in the course of the flight, the pilot will not be able to restart them, and the plane will need to be brought down for a landing at a location other than the airport.
The coronavirus has led to planes being used less often, and airlines have been storing some of their aircraft. During storage, there appears to be a greater risk of corrosion. Under normal circumstances, planes are in the air several times each day. When air travel dropped due to the pandemic, many of the planes across the country were not needed. As the country slowly reopens, planes that were grounded are now being used again.
Impacted aircraft are NG and Classic models of the 737. Boeings 737 Max planes, the ones that were grounded internationally after two tragic crashes, are not affected by the order.
Since jets used for passenger planes are equipped with multiple engines, the risk of a multiple engine failure is slim. One case in which this occurred was the plane that came down in the Hudson River in 2009 when birds took out the US Airway jets’ engines.
