Carrier Removed Problematic Flap Doors

The FAA will not require Alaska Airlines to make any changes to its fleet of Boeing 737-400s, following four emergency landings by three 737-400 Combis in January.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the Seattle-based carrier is responding to incidents wherein the wing flaps failed to fully deploy for landing. FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer does not consider the incidents dangerous, according to an email response to the paper.

Flight crews are trained to handle landings with flaps fully up by increasing speed to maintain lift. With the speed increase comes the need for a longer runway... or the possibility of rolling off the end of a short runway. In turn, it's standard procedure for the pilot to declare an emergency.

"Once the second incident occurred, we decided to inspect all the others, to see whether they have the same hardware-wear issue," Airline spokesman Paul McElroy said. The problem was traced to the housing for the machinery that deploys the flaps. McElroy stressed the repairs weren't "required by the manufacturer or the FAA. We're doing it just to improve reliability." None of the emergency landings resulted in any injuries or property damage.

Alaska has since removed the door coverings over the flaps from all 40 of its 737-400 aircraft as a preventative measure. "The aircraft are safe to fly without the doors," Kenitzer explained, adding the removal has "eliminated the possibility of this problem repeating itself."

As ANN reported, the airline did not disclose the incidents until the P-I contacted the airline. Alaska was not required to notify the FAA or NTSB, according to McElroy, but personnel with both agencies, along with Boeing, have since been contacted.

Five of Alaska's 40 -400s are Combis, which have been converted to carry both cargo and passengers (an older, 737-200 Combi, is shown below.) It is not known whether the problem may be unique to the Combi fleet.

Alaska currently flies a mix of 737 variants. The carrier lists 12 737-900s in its fleet, five 737-800s, 22 737-700s, 40 737-400s, and two 737-200 "Combis".

The 40-plane fleet will still be examined by both Alaska Airlines and Boeing.

FMI: www.alaskaairlines.com, www.boeing.com, www.faa.gov