The Guvnor
25th Nov 2000, 19:57
SAA planes at risk
Nov 24 2000 09:32:27:000PM
Negligence in failing to import a computer program resulted in a spare part in the tail section of several South African Airways (SAA) Boeing
737-200s exceeding its service period by more than double.
Johannesburg - Negligence by failing to import a computer program resulted in spare parts in the tail section of several South African Airways
(SAA) Boeing 737-200s exceeding their service period by more than double.
In January this year an Alaska Airlines Macdonnell Douglas MD-83 crashed when the same spare part, a tail stabiliser, "snagged" and the
aircraft plunged into the sea out of control. All 88 people on board died.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed on Friday that SAA informed them of ten aircraft exceeding their service period by 20 000 hours.
Several of the aircraft exceeded the period by more than 20 000 hours. The spare part in effect was serviced 40 000 hours ago.
SAA maintains the spare part had meanwhile been replaced in seven of the ten aircraft. The spare part, a screw arm and transmission, is used to
move the tail stabilisers up and down - a delicate adjustment enabling the aircraft to fly straight.
Depending on conditions, for example, weight or cross winds, adjustments are made to the stabilisers to cancel out external influences placing
the aircraft in a horizontally straight or a smooth ascending or descending course.
Aircraft Plunged Into Sea
In the Alaska Airlines crash the screw thread in the screw arm had been worn down, causing the stabiliser to snag which in turn resulted in the
aircraft plunging suddenly out of control to the ground. The pilots were able to stabilise the aircraft for a short period, however, the aircraft
pitched again, plunging into the sea.
CAA acting commissioner Wrenelle Stander said in view of safety considerations she made enquiries with the manufacturer, Boeing, in America.
Boeing claims the spare part is very reliable, but pointed out that the only recorded cases exceeded the service period by 5% to 10%, translating
into about 2 000 hours.
SAA vice president Anton Richman and technical services chief executive officer Kevin Wilson noted that the postponement posed no safety
implications.
Stander announced that an inquiry would be instituted to try and determine why the time schedule for spare part replacements had not been
recorded in the computer program. Boeing provides each aircraft user with a time schedule for spare part servicing. The schedules are installed
on SAA's Memes computer system.
SAA has already taken measures to prevent a similar occurrence, which includes a second system affecting cross controls to exclude human and
computer elements.
CAA confirmed that an Air Namibia Boeing 737-200 was also involved.
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:) Happiness is a warm L1011 :)
Nov 24 2000 09:32:27:000PM
Negligence in failing to import a computer program resulted in a spare part in the tail section of several South African Airways (SAA) Boeing
737-200s exceeding its service period by more than double.
Johannesburg - Negligence by failing to import a computer program resulted in spare parts in the tail section of several South African Airways
(SAA) Boeing 737-200s exceeding their service period by more than double.
In January this year an Alaska Airlines Macdonnell Douglas MD-83 crashed when the same spare part, a tail stabiliser, "snagged" and the
aircraft plunged into the sea out of control. All 88 people on board died.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed on Friday that SAA informed them of ten aircraft exceeding their service period by 20 000 hours.
Several of the aircraft exceeded the period by more than 20 000 hours. The spare part in effect was serviced 40 000 hours ago.
SAA maintains the spare part had meanwhile been replaced in seven of the ten aircraft. The spare part, a screw arm and transmission, is used to
move the tail stabilisers up and down - a delicate adjustment enabling the aircraft to fly straight.
Depending on conditions, for example, weight or cross winds, adjustments are made to the stabilisers to cancel out external influences placing
the aircraft in a horizontally straight or a smooth ascending or descending course.
Aircraft Plunged Into Sea
In the Alaska Airlines crash the screw thread in the screw arm had been worn down, causing the stabiliser to snag which in turn resulted in the
aircraft plunging suddenly out of control to the ground. The pilots were able to stabilise the aircraft for a short period, however, the aircraft
pitched again, plunging into the sea.
CAA acting commissioner Wrenelle Stander said in view of safety considerations she made enquiries with the manufacturer, Boeing, in America.
Boeing claims the spare part is very reliable, but pointed out that the only recorded cases exceeded the service period by 5% to 10%, translating
into about 2 000 hours.
SAA vice president Anton Richman and technical services chief executive officer Kevin Wilson noted that the postponement posed no safety
implications.
Stander announced that an inquiry would be instituted to try and determine why the time schedule for spare part replacements had not been
recorded in the computer program. Boeing provides each aircraft user with a time schedule for spare part servicing. The schedules are installed
on SAA's Memes computer system.
SAA has already taken measures to prevent a similar occurrence, which includes a second system affecting cross controls to exclude human and
computer elements.
CAA confirmed that an Air Namibia Boeing 737-200 was also involved.
------------------
:) Happiness is a warm L1011 :)