‘A quality escape” is how Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun described the issues with the Boeing and Spirit Aerospace manufacturing process that have emerged since the AS1282 blowout.
Hardware installed improperly by supplier Spirit AeroSystems on Boeing 737-9s is being detected during inspections.
Loose bolts and related issues are being found in preliminary door plug assembly checks on 737-9s of Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.
Spirit AeroSystems is acknowledged as the origin of the problems, but Boeing takes responsibility as well.
Investigation is ongoing to determine how the hardware was installed incorrectly and why quality control checks did not catch the issues.
The incident involving Alaska Flight 1282 suggests that the bolts were installed incorrectly and did not fail, ruling out other explanations.
One official said: “The inspection is easy. The problem is, what do you do when you find a loose part? Do you go back to the torquing? Is it sufficient as specified or does the design need to be improved?”
