Sends Letter To The FAA Questioning Inspection And Maintenance Requirements

In a letter to the FAA dated October 7th, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) raised questions about the inspection and maintenance requirements for vintage WWII aircraft which carry passengers, such as The Collings Foundation's B-17 which went down at Bradley International Airport last week. The accident resulted in seven fatal injuries, and caused lessor injuries to seven others.

The FAA approved an exemption to the Collings Foundation in March, 2018 allowing the plane to carry paying passengers through 2020.

The Hartford Courant reports that Blumental said it was his understanding that the maintenance records for the plane were on board, which would limit access to them. He also questioned why a plane approved to carry passengers was not required to be equipped with Flight Data Recorder similar to those used by airliners.

The exemption allows organizations such as the Collings Foundation to operate flights carrying passengers as "Living History Flight Experiences." It allows passengers to fly on aircraft that have "a limited or experimental airworthiness certificate."

“It is unclear from the exemption letter (to The Collings Foundation) what specific inspection protocols were required in order for this vintage plane to fly with passengers,” Blumenthal wrote.

According to the report, the FAA's 2018 letter granting the extension to The Collings Foundation does specify instances in which the group must notify the FAA about the performance of its aircraft. The group must also document the training it provides for its pilots, and testing it conducts on its aircraft.

But Blumenthal's letter states that it is unclear from the approval granted to The Collings Foundation "what specific inspection protocols were required in order for this vintage plane to fly with passengers."

The Courant reports that it has heard from law enforcement sources that The Collings Foundation was aware of potential engine problems with the B-17 before the accident flight.

The NTSB has received volumes of maintenance and inspection records from the foundation and the FAA, but did not disclose the details of those records, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report