Missing Plastic Cap Found In Aircraft Fuel Line, Investigation Underway

The Boeing helicopter assembly facility in Ridley Park, PA shut down its production lines at 1 pm Friday after a misplaced plastic cap was found in a fuel line in a V-22 Osprey fuselage.

Representative Joe Sestak, whose congressional district includes the Boeing plant, said he was informed of the incident by a Boeing executive. Sestak said the cap was found during an inspection that began after two dissimilar types of plastic caps couldn't be found at the end of a shift, the Associated Press said.

"Boeing says they can't rule out that it was not willful, so therefore they are proceeding as if it were," Sestak said, adding that production is expected to be shut down through the weekend.

The discovery of the foreign object mandated notification of officials from the Defense Contract Management Agency. Because the incident is now under federal investigation, Boeing spokesman John Williamson said he was unable to give specific details.

"Until the Department of Defense completes their review of the situation and sets the criteria, they will not be accepting aircraft from us and we won't be producing any," Williamson said.

As ANN reported, last May production lines were shut down at the Ridley Park plant when employees discovered severed wiring on one CH-47 Chinook during a quality control inspection, and a second with a "suspicious washer."

The incident was attributed to a disgruntled worker, who recently admitted to the vandalism.

FMI: www.boeing.com