Regulator to order mandatory inspections of 787's emergency beacons just two months after lithium-ion battery problems
The Federal Aviation Authority was due to order mandatory inspections of the emergency beacons aboard Boeing's ill-fated 787 Dreamliner as early as Monday after a fire broke out aboard one of the planes in London.
The FAA "airworthiness directive" comes just two months after the 787 was certified to fly again following a global grounding triggered by problems with its lithium-ion battery system.
A fire aboard an Ethiopian Airways jet at London's Heathrow airport earlier this month forced the closure of both runways for more than an hour.
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that the fire started near the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter – a distress beacon used to help rescuers find a plane if, for example, it is forced to land on water or in polar regions. The focus of attention appears to be whether a pinched wire under the battery cover triggered a short circuit.
The FAA spent the weekend telling other aviation safety regulators around the world of its concerns. It is expected to formally issue the directive early this week, possibly as early as Monday.
The beacons, made by Honeywell, are powered by a lithium manganese battery, which could have suffered a short circuit. Last week the FAA said its inspections would call for operators to check "proper wire routing and any signs of wire damage or pinching, as well as inspect the battery compartment for unusual signs of heating or moisture."
Robert Mann, an aviation expert at consultant RW Mann, said it was unclear whether the latest issue was caused by installation, quality control issues or design issues specifically related to the 787. Honeywell had issues with its emergency locators in 2009 that led to the beacons failing to send out signals. But Mann said the issue could also be specific to the Dreamliner.
The 787 is the world's most technologically advanced passenger jet. Its use of lightweight materials means its uses 20% less fuel than its peers. Aluminum wiring and Teflon coating are used to save weight. "We got rid of aluminum wiring in the US in the 1980s because of the tendency of aluminum oxide to cause problems," said Mann. "And there have been reports of fragility with Teflon insulation."
So far there are just 68 Dreamliners in service and more teething issues are likely to worry passengers and delay orders. Boeing's shares dipped lower Monday morning even as the US stock markets rose. "This plane need to get out of the headlines and get on with what it is supposed to be doing," said Mann.