The NTSB has narrowed the failure down to some criteria. Internal defects are on the list, and cannot, by their nature, be monitored, or even known, until failure. They are mentioned as related to the folding of the electrode, pinching and wrinkling, and foreign object contamination.
This report is not a new revelation. This failure is well known in the industry, see Failure Analysis Associates, Exponent evaluation.
NTSB may appear to be discovering this problem just now. Wrong, it was on their list, it was on the list prior to the wording of the FAA special circumstances.
Try to avoid the propaganda that somehow something mysterious is happening.
Any Drama is Public Relations.
As has been said here before, this is "Mature Technology". That is true, but "Mature" is not a synonym for "Safe in Commercial Aviation".
As to Boeing writing the regs. Let's see. I am in a spelling Bee, as a contestant.
May I submit the word which I will be required to Spell?
Last edited by Lyman; 10th Feb 2013 at 16:29.