NTSB Warns of Boeing Evacuation Slide Issues

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has issued new security suggestions to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration relating to evacuation slides on sure plane varieties.

These suggestions stem from an ongoing investigation into an emergency touchdown, involving a FedEx Boeing 757-200 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

On Oct. 4, 2023, FedEx flight 1376 skilled a hydraulic system failure shortly after takeoff from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. The flight crew tried an emergency gear-up touchdown, throughout which the plane sustained substantial harm.

When evacuating, the crew encountered points with each the left (L1) and proper (R1) doorways. The L1 door wouldn’t totally open resulting from an incorrectly routed deployment strap, whereas the R1 door was tough to open as a result of its slide pack jammed.

The NTSB’s investigation revealed that the R1 door’s bannis latch, which releases the slide pack, didn’t conform to required modifications laid out in FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) 86-09-09. This AD mandated modifications to stop slide packs from jamming doorways throughout emergencies.

The plane’s R1 bannis latch had just one hyperlink as a substitute of the required three and lacked different vital {hardware}, investigators acknowledged.

Noncompliance

Following this incident, FedEx inspected its complete Boeing 757 fleet and located that about 24% of doorways weren’t compliant with both AD 86-09-09 or a subsequent directive, AD 2001-15-01. These findings prompted Boeing to problem a multioperator message alerting different airways to the potential problem.

The NTSB’s overview of Boeing and FedEx upkeep manuals discovered inconsistent depictions of the right bannis latch configuration, which might result in confusion amongst upkeep personnel and the potential set up of nonconforming elements.

Primarily based on these findings, the NTSB has issued a number of suggestions, together with:

• Boeing ought to problem a service bulletin advising 757 operators to examine and, if vital, modify or substitute bannis latches to make sure appropriate configuration.
• The FAA ought to require all Boeing 757 operators to conduct these inspections and modifications.
• Related suggestions have been made for Boeing 737 fashions that use the identical bannis latch design, together with newer variants such because the -700 and -800.
• Boeing ought to overview and revise upkeep manuals to make sure constant and correct depiction of the right bannis latch meeting for affected plane fashions.
• The FAA ought to require operators to replace their upkeep manuals accordingly.

The Chattanooga gear-up landing remains under investigation. Whereas the plane suffered damages, no accidents have been reported following the accident.

Ryan based AirlineGeeks.com again in February 2013 and has amassed appreciable expertise within the aviation sector. His work has been featured in a number of publications and information retailers, together with CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Enterprise Insider. Throughout his time within the trade, he is labored in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations whereas holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Administration from Arizona State College together with an MBA. Ryan has expertise in a number of sides of the trade from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline trade executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks’ proprietor FLYING Media, spearheading protection within the industrial aviation house.

Newest posts by Ryan Ewing (see all)