Action Follows FAA AD Concerning Cracks In 'Pickle Forks'

Southwest and Brazil's Gol airline have grounded a total of 13 Boeing 737 NG airliners following the discovery of cracks in the "pickle forks" which attach the aircraft's wings to their fuselages. The connectors were the subject of a recent FAA AD (AD-2019-20-02) requiring inspection of the components.

The AD "requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the left and right hand side outboard chords of the STA 663.75 frame fittings and failsafe straps adjacent to the stringer S-18A straps. This AD also requires repair of all cracking using a method approved by the FAA or The Boeing Company Organization Designation Authorization (ODA). This AD also requires sending a report of all results of the initial inspection to Boeing."

Reuters reports that Southwest has grounded two airplanes following the discovery of cracks, while Gol has taken 11 out of service.

The AD affected 165 airplanes of U.S. registry, the majority of which are operated by Southwest. The airline said it "removed the two aircraft from our operation and reported the findings to Boeing and the FAA."

Gol operates 115 737s, not counting its 737 MAX airliners.

According to an industry analyst speaking to Reuters, such cracks are not unusual, but normally appear near the end of an airplane's life cycle, generally more than 90,000 takeoff and landing cycles.

According to the AD, the inspection takes about an hour. The agency had received no definitive data that would enable the agency to provide cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in the AD.

(Source: FAA and as cited)

FMI: Source report
AD