'Missing washer' found in a Boeing 737 Max operated by an Indian carrier: DGCA
Washer found missing in an Indian carrier's Boeing 737 Max during checks: DGCA
NEW DELHI: New Delhi: A washer was found missing on a Boeing 737 MAX being operated by an Indian carrier during recent checks, after several such discoveries by foreign airlines. The US aerospace major had late last month advised MAX operators globally to check planes for loose hardware, specifically nuts tightening tie rods that control rudder movement.Among other things, rudder basically helps an aircraft turn left or right.In India, Air India Express, Akasa and SpiceJet operate the Max. When checked, a washer was found missing in one of their Max.“Indian Boeing 737MAX fleet of 40 is operated by Akasa (22), SpiceJet (9) and Air India Express (9). Inspections on 39 aircraft have been completed with nil findings except on one aircraft wherein a missing washer was found. Rectification action as per recommendations of Boeing has been taken prior to release of this aircraft. Inspection on the remaining one aircraft will be completed prior to release for service,” said a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official.The advisory for loose hardware checks was issued a few days before an Alaska Airlines B737-9 Max saw a mid cabin emergency exit assembly and portion of the plane’s fuselage blow out shortly after take off in the US on Jan 5. The Portland-Ontario flight luckily returned safely to the origin. No Indian carrier operates the B737-9 variant of the Max yet and they have the B737-8 Max in their fleets. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries has a B737-9 Max but that is a foreign (San Marino) registered aircraft and does not come under the Indian DGCA's purview.The DGCA then as a matter of abundant precaution asked Indian carriers to check the over wing emergency exits of their Max. While those examinations did not reveal anything amiss, the earlier ordered checks for loose hardware led to a washer being found missing and the same has been rectified.“Based on information from an operator of a missing nut and washer in the Aft Rudder Quadrant on Boeing 737MAX airplane, Boeing has recommended for a one-time inspection of all Boeing 737MAX airplanes before January 10, 2024, for possible loose hardware,” the DGCA official added.The chequered history B737 MAX was grounded globally from March 2019 to December 2020 following two back to back crashes, one each of Tiger Air and Ethiopian, in which 346 people had lost their lives. The plane was certified safe following multiple hardware and software alterations and then allowed to fly again. Indian carriers have hundreds of MAX on order.