The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to be inspected after cracks were discovered near the forward galley door on some aircraft.
The new airworthiness directive, which takes effect 10SEP, applies to an estimated 471 Boeing 737-8, 737-9 and high-density 737-8200 planes. The order does not apply to all 737 MAX.
According to the FAA, the checks were prompted by cracks found in the "bear strap" at the upper corner of the forward galley door cutout. The bear strap is a structural reinforcement around an opening in the aircraft's fuselage.
The regulator warns this kind of damage "may lead to the inability of the principal structural element to sustain limit loads and adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane."
The directive states operators will be required to inspect the “fuselage skin” on a schedule determined by each aircraft's usage, with any cracks repaired before the aircraft can return to service.
The FAA said inspection timelines are based on Boeing 737 fleet findings, engineering analysis and the severity of the potential structural issue.
Boeing is also updating its manufacturing process to address what the FAA described as “the root cause of the unsafe condition on in-production airplanes.”
Although the directive is for US carriers, Air Canada has over 45 Boeing 737-8 aircraft in its fleet. Open Jaw has reached out to the carrier for comment.
The news network says the aircraft manufacturer has faced similar concerns before. In 2019, inspections were ordered on some Boeing 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 aircraft after cracks were found in a component connecting the fuselage to the wings.
"This issue has not been observed on the 737 MAX fleet, but Boeing extended the inspections to 737 MAX airplanes as the model shares a similar design and build process," the company told CNN. "We support both directives and continue to support our airline customers."
The latest directive from the FAA comes just weeks after it proposed inspections of seat assemblies on 453 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft over concerns they may have been installed incorrectly.
