Any word of a fleet inspection of the offending assembly?
On 10th November 2005, in reply to an MP's question about trend failures (on Chinook) Adam Ingram replied that trend failures only apply to that tail number. If a similar failure is found on another aircraft, that is another, separate case and not considered part of a trend. MoD/MAA has consistently supported this statement. Routine monitoring of trend failures was cancelled by the Chief Engineer in 1991. (That timeframe again).
Assuming an inspection HAS been ordered by someone sensible, I won't hold my breath waiting for an admission Ingram was deliberately misled. But all here should be concerned that this is the level of advice given to Ministers (and courts) and an indication of how MoD will lie. And concerned that "colleagues" in MoD are prepared to lie to Ministers in order to hide "savings at the expense of safety"; and the reasons why the "savings" were thought necessary.