737NGs have cracked 'pickle forks' after finding several in the jets.
Qantas will inspect 33 of its Boeing 737 aircraft by the end of this week after it discovered structural cracks on one of the short-haul jets that are the backbone of its domestic operations.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...30-p535xo.html
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...30-p535xo.html
2 have been grounded with more inspections still to come
QANTAS - pickle fork cracks at 27,000 cycles
"Boeing had previous thought the cracks were only occurring on aircraft with over 35,000 landings, the issue has now been identified on two Qantas aircraft with as few as 27,000 landings and Qantas are yet to inspect the majority of its 737 fleet." (emphasis added)
Steve Purvinas, Federal Secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Steve Purvinas, Federal Secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Last edited by kiwi grey; 31st Oct 2019 at 00:29. Reason: spelling error in subject :(
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"Boeing had previous thought the cracks were only occurring on aircraft with over 35,000 landings, the issue has now been identified on two Qantas aircraft with as few as 27,000 landings and Qantas are yet to inspect the majority of its 737 fleet." (emphasis added)
Steve Purvinas, Federal Secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
Steve Purvinas, Federal Secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...nd-737-461920/
Quntas's response (quote): The Oneworld carrier says it "rejects the alarmist claims" for grounding made by the engineers' association which, it argues, are "irresponsible and completely inconsistent with advice from regulators and the manufacturer".
So Qantas trusts the "regulators" and "manufacturer" who both have JUST been caught cooking the books and making Powerpoint presentations to rectify the death of 346 people, but dismisses their own country's engineers who actually know what they are saying, as "irresponsible".
The tone of this statement itself is simply outrageous. Even if Mr. Whoever doesn't like unions, he should've chosen his words A LOT more carefully. I'm an adventurous person and I like risky bets. But not for any money in the world would I post a response like that just a few months after two deadly disasters that were caused by managers not listening to engineers. If something happens to any of Qantas's 737s (and I sure hope it doesn't), this is not just a PR disaster, this is a guaranteed social death. The events of the past few months got me thinking that maybe Qantas is not led by as smart people as they thought they were.
Read my previous post. It's not an estimate of affected airframes, just a count of the number of the world's NGs that fall under the FAA's jurisdiction.
So a 3rd qantas plane has been a grounded for cracking, but all the inspections have been carried out according to qantas statement. So for them 3 of 33 airframes have been grounded
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This is really quite alarming
9% pickle fork cracking in the fleet of an airline with a reputation for good maintenance and well-trained pilots, and a fleet that by and large flies in very benign weather conditions. This should be one of the 'best' fleets from the wear and tear point of view, but 9% have cracks in their pickle forks.
This is really quite alarming
This is really quite alarming
What do you mean what % have they missed. They have checked all the planes they were required to. They have a fleet of 75 737's of which they were required to check 33 of them. They actually checked them all way before the a due date. The others have not hit the a inspection cycles.
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PROBABLY NOT WINGLET RELATED
There is also the possibility/probability that the addition of the Split Scimitar winglets has had an adverse effect on the wing bending loads carried by the pickle forks.
Apparently the spanwise lift distribution has shifted the centre of lift further outboard on the wings which would necessarily give rise to greater wing bending loads at the wing attachment points from both static flight and gust loads.
Possibly those B737s that were designed from the outset to have Split Scimitar winglets might have strengthened pickleforks to account for the increase in bending loads.
But those B737s (eg, 800, NG) that were fitted with the after-market mod Scimitar installation (without beefing up the wing attach load path design) would necessarily suffer a reduced wing attachment fatigue life due to the higher loads imposed by the addition of the Split Scimitar winglets.
Perhaps more engineering learned members than I might like to comment?
Apparently the spanwise lift distribution has shifted the centre of lift further outboard on the wings which would necessarily give rise to greater wing bending loads at the wing attachment points from both static flight and gust loads.
Possibly those B737s that were designed from the outset to have Split Scimitar winglets might have strengthened pickleforks to account for the increase in bending loads.
But those B737s (eg, 800, NG) that were fitted with the after-market mod Scimitar installation (without beefing up the wing attach load path design) would necessarily suffer a reduced wing attachment fatigue life due to the higher loads imposed by the addition of the Split Scimitar winglets.
Perhaps more engineering learned members than I might like to comment?
I know that it's never say never when it comes to this sort of thing but I'm thinking that the pickle-fork issue is probably not related to the winglets.
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As the pickle fork does not carry any primary wing bending loads thast is an unlikely alternative. Spanwise change slightly towards the wing tips would put the rear fork into more compression which is not compatible with the seen cracks.
I don't disagree but what the Korean Air sample shows is that the problem is pervasive, it's impacting a range of B737s regardless of whether they had a traditional wing or whether winglets were fitted.
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SAS found 2 737-700’s with cracks, one with winglets and one without. They have been flying 737’s for 20 years in some of the worst conditions in the world and probably have some of the oldest frames in the industry flying. A good mix of -700 and -800 aircraft with and without winglets. None with scimitars.
Yet, only two of 50 - 60 (?) had cracked pickle forks.
I struggle to see any pattern with this issue. I think they need to look at where the aircraft were made, time period, pickle fork batches and production methodes.
Yet, only two of 50 - 60 (?) had cracked pickle forks.
I struggle to see any pattern with this issue. I think they need to look at where the aircraft were made, time period, pickle fork batches and production methodes.
SAS found 2 737-700’s with cracks, one with winglets and one without. They have been flying 737’s for 20 years in some of the worst conditions in the world and probably have some of the oldest frames in the industry flying. A good mix of -700 and -800 aircraft with and without winglets. None with scimitars.
Yet, only two of 50 - 60 (?) had cracked pickle forks.
I struggle to see any pattern with this issue. I think they need to look at where the aircraft were made, time period, pickle fork batches and production methodes.
Yet, only two of 50 - 60 (?) had cracked pickle forks.
I struggle to see any pattern with this issue. I think they need to look at where the aircraft were made, time period, pickle fork batches and production methodes.
A thing I would not have considered a year ago - but now my first thought.
No problem, Denis owns it.
Any news on availability of all the required pickle forks?