Apparent Flap Defects To Blame

The Wall Street Journal reports the Federal Aviation Administration and Canada's Transportation Safety Board have placed tight operating restrictions on older Bombardier (nee Canadair) CRJ-100, -200, and -440 aircraft. Those types are in operation with several North American commuter airlines.

Citing the WSJ report, Reuters says regulators made their decision following several reports of stuck flaps on the cited aircraft. Those situations have led to several no-flap landings. No fatal accidents related to the apparent defect have been reported.

Both agencies have ordered affected airlines to make changes in their maintenance, pilot training and dispatching practices, according to media reports. The restrictions cover everything from acceptable runway conditions and lengths for no-flap landings, to carrying extra fuel in order to reach an alternate airport if necessary, and altitude restrictions.

The FAA has also identified a minimum operating temperature at cruise altitude of minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit, as extreme cold may prevent the flaps from deploying, according to the Journal.

The restrictions apply to roughly 684 aircraft in operation in the US, and at least another 300 in operation throughout the world. None of the affected models are still in production.

The reported flap failures appear to be similar to situations encountered on two Atlantic Southeast Airlines CRJ-200s in March 2006. As ANN reported, two ASA planes -- both flying as Delta Connection flights -- were involved in three separate, emergency landing incidents at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport in the span of two days. All three incidents were traced to defective flap deployment.

A spokesman for Bombardier's aerospace unit told the Journal this week the manufacturer issued a voluntary safety bulletin in March to operators of the affected aircraft. The company has been working with regulators and airlines to develop a permanent fix.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.tsb.gc.ca, www.bombardier.com