FAA Orders Inspections of Boeing 737 MAX Jets for Fuselage Cracks

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive on Thursday, ordering inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 MAX jets due to reports of cracks in older-generation aircraft. The directive applies to the 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 200, also known as the 737-8200, and will affect an estimated 471 aircraft.

The directive, now finalized, requires operators to inspect the fuselage skin and bear straps of the affected 737 MAX variants. Bear straps are metal sheets that reinforce fuselage structures such as doorways and emergency exits. The FAA stated that cracks in these components could potentially lead to a loss of structural integrity and the inability to sustain limit loads.

The agency wrote, “The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on in-service airplanes. The required compliance times for the initial inspection and on-condition repetitive inspections and repair were established to ensure any crack is detected and repaired before it reaches a critical length, with multiple opportunities for detection.

The directive will take effect on September 10th and is a result of reported cracks found in the bear strap at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout on the older 737 Next Gen. While no cracks have been found on any 737 MAX variants so far, investigators believe that the similar design of the two generations could make the MAX susceptible to the same issue.

Boeing has stated that they informed operators of the 737 Next Gen about the cracking problem in 2019 and extended inspections to the 737 MAX in 2024 due to their shared “similar design and build process. ” This comes after the 737 MAX faced intense scrutiny following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The aircraft was grounded for months and was only allowed to reenter service after regulators imposed new safety requirements on Boeing.

In related news, earlier this week, the FAA certified the 737 MAX 7, the smallest variant of the 737 MAX. The certification process for the 737 MAX has been closely monitored and regulated by the FAA since its grounding, with the agency implementing stricter safety measures to ensure the safety of the aircraft.

The FAA’s directive for inspections of the 737 MAX jet is a precautionary measure to address potential safety concerns and ensure the continued safe operation of these aircraft. Boeing and the FAA will closely monitor the situation and work together to address any issues that may arise. Passenger safety remains a top priority for both the FAA and Boeing, and measures will continue to be taken to ensure the safety of all flights.