Improper Engine-Mount Installation Could Lead To In-Flight Separation

'Enhanced' inspections have been proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on approximately 500 Boeing 737 jets operated by US airlines, hoping to detect slip-ups in the manufacturing process that at worst could result in an in-flight separation of engines from the wings of the aircraft.

After receiving at least two reports in recent months of improperly installed engines on Boeing 737s, the FAA has proposed enhanced inspections of engine mounts on the four most recent versions of the 737, the -600 through -900 "Next Generation" models.

According to the FAA, if portions of engine mounts are installed backward, structural loads are increased on certain parts. In extreme cases, the result could be "separation of the engine from the airplane."

A company spokesman said Friday, "We don't believe this to be a safety of flight issue," adding that Boeing has taken steps to prevent further slip-ups at the factory and has instructed airlines to step up inspections of certain planes already in service, according to Wall Street Journal reports.

Unlike previous directives, which were designed to catch similar engine installation mistakes made by airline mechanics and third-party service providers, the FAAs new proposal targets slip-ups made on the Boeing assembly line.

The new inspections will likely be required to be completed within 90 days after the final directive is released by the FAA. The proposal also allows Boeing and airline maintenance officials a certain degree of flexibility in how to conduct repairs if problems are found during the inspections.

Expected to follow suit, foreign safety regulators are likely to require similar inspections, which could eventually affect a total of more than 1,270 Boeing 737s worldwide.

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