Introduction
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced its proposal of three directives that will mandate inspections and component replacements for engine housing on Boeing 737NG airplanes. This comes after a fatal incident in 2018 involving a Southwest Airlines flight. The directives will apply to 1,979 U.S.-registered airplanes and 6,666 737 airplanes globally, with compliance required by July 2028.
Background
In April 2018, a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight lost their life due to engine failure caused by a broken fan blade. This incident marked the first accident fatality on a U.S. passenger airline in almost a decade. The FAA, in response to this tragedy, has worked with Boeing to develop modifications to the inlet cowl, fan cowl, and exhaust nozzle. These modifications must be installed on applicable aircraft by July 2028.
Boeing’s Support
Boeing has expressed its support for the FAA’s proposal and intends to make a set of service bulletins mandatory for the improved design of the 737NG. This initiative aims to enhance the safety measures surrounding engine housing in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
NTSB Investigation
It is worth mentioning that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was already investigating an engine failure on another Southwest 737-700 at the time of the fatal incident in 2018. The NTSB’s ongoing investigation will likely consider the findings related to both incidents to ensure comprehensive safety improvements are implemented.
By implementing these directives, the FAA aims to prioritize passenger safety and ensure that all necessary inspections and component replacements are carried out on Boeing 737NG airplanes by the specified deadline.