Fuselage skin failure UAL B752

[brad p]

Hi All,

Was a pax on UAL861 (B752) from BOS to IAD on 9/10/10. Flight was cancelled due to what was found to be a 6-8"x1/4" structural failure of fuselage skin just aft of the forward door. The story (from UAL non-crew employee, so totally unverified), was that a whistling noise was noted sometime during descent on the prior leg, landed uneventfully, was inspected, and daylight shone in a place where it shouldn't have.

Anyone know anything more about this? I couldn't catch the N-number.

Thanks- Brad.

[AltFlaps]

Oh dear

I think the industry (if not Boeing) had hoped that this type of skin problem (associated with the manufacturing process) was just limited to aircraft of 737 classic vintage.

Following recent recent crown skin damage on Southwest 737s (and others), the airframe life has been decreased.

If this now starts to occur on the 757, there really isn't much out there to fill the hole - not yet at least

[Flightmech]

Without knowing the full facts could it be be a "ding" from the previous station (jetbridge?) that went un-noticed/unreported and was made worse by subsequent pressurisation, rather than a structural failure? Around the door, a normally beefed up area, seems suspicious.

[411A]

If a skin failure, one wonders if Boeing used, on the suspect aircraft, cold bonding of skin laps....as they have done in the past, with earlier designs.

IF so, not a good sign.:ugh:

[PaperTiger]

FAA AD (http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/e22075f4705e6c2086256e8d0055fe44!OpenDocument&ExpandSection=-5) from 2004 about this.

[Admiral346]

If this now starts to occur on the 757, there really isn't much out there to fill the hole - not yet at least

How about an A330?

Nic

[Robert Campbell]

I just wrote to Boeing and told them to re-start the 757 line. Makes sense. Taller gear, better performance than the 73. Especially with some new engines.

I'm sure they'll get right back to me.

[EW73]

Admiral346...

You're kidding, right!

[DC-ATE]

Bring back "my" airplane !!:ok:

[P-T]

There is nothing to replace the 757, I can't believe Boeing let this section of the market just dwindle away.

Brilliant Aircraft, versatile, powerful and with modern engines might even be efficient!

[Jonty]

As far as Boeing was concerned the 757 program was a failure. They "only" sold about 1200 of the aircraft. And the -300 was even more of a failure with only about 50 being sold. It filled a specific niche in the market, but that niche was quite small. Fantastic aircraft though, shame its days have been cut short.

[protectthehornet]

yes, the 757 was a fine plane. Proof that it is better to overbuild than underbuild a plane. a failure? how many airlines would have bought the 767 without that dual type rating feature with the 757?

always looked like a DC8 with two engines to me....that 757 would have made a nice tanker plane for the USAF...maybe the wake would have been too tough?

[spanish no fly]

DC-ATE,
I agree, but it's an "aeroplane" dear boy, not an := "airplane". :E

[DC-ATE]

spanish no fly -
DC-ATE,
I agree, but it's an "aeroplane" dear boy, not an "airplane".

Well.....I guess it depends on which side of the Lake, er, Pond you're on !:)

[brakedwell]

To stop arguments let's call it a Kite. :)

[oceancrosser]

As far as Boeing was concerned the 757 program was a failure. They "only" sold about 1200 of the aircraft. And the -300 was even more of a failure with only about 50 being sold. It filled a specific niche in the market, but that niche was quite small. Fantastic aircraft though, shame its days have been cut short.

If Boeing had offered the -300 a few years earlier I believe it would have been more of a success. Same goes for the B764. They were just too late.
The 757s (both versions) have never been seen on the Trans-Atlantic in such numbers as last 2 summers.

As for culling the 757 program, I always felt that was in a way to try to promote the B737-900ER which appears to be a pretty dismal performer.

[Neptunus Rex]

B737-900ER which appears to be a pretty dismal performer.Bung a couple of Rollers on and things could improve.

[BrATCO]

let's call it a Kite.
Historically, could be called an "avion" (name given by Clement Ader to his flying steam-bat).

Or even an "ornithoptere" (Da Vinci and Icarus' concept). Depends whether the holes are close enough to the wing root or not...:)

[oceancrosser]

Bung a couple of Rollers on and things could improve.

Besides dragging them along the runway that would do away with the already dismal range :}

But this is off topic. Anyone with further info on the UAL a/c?

[protectthehornet]

you say aeroplane, I say airplane...

but how come your films say: Colour by TECHNICOLOR?

and ours say: Color by TECHNICOLOR?
;-)