Originally Posted by
PorkyMcFuzz
I get the impression there is perhaps a lot more being discovered behind the scenes and the issues found are going a lot deeper than a few bolts. Could be wrong but sure looks that way at the moment. I’d be kinda shocked if they are flying sooner than at least a couple more months at this stage.
Boeing and the airlines are no doubt wanting a quick resolution but I can’t see the feds taking any chances on this one with so much public interest.
Originally Posted by
PineappleXpres
Hopefully not an fuselage engineering flaw.
Originally Posted by
clearandcold
That area encompassing the door is only so big and there is only so much to look at. Unless they are looking at other parts of the plane I don’t see this lasting months.
Probably nothing more involved than missing bolts on the plug door. There's some pretty good info floating around about how the plug doors work. Once installed by engaging the mechanism, they need to also install four bolts to keep the latches engaged. Failing to do that would allow the latches to eventually work loose given pressure cycles, bumps, and vibration. Sounds like you could engage the plug in the latches, and it would seat firmly (like a normal cabin door) so it wouldn't be obvious that you needed the retaining bolts if for some reason you weren't aware. Or maybe they intended to install the bolts later and forgot.
Also rumored that Spirit installed the plugs, and the fuselages were then transferred to Renton for final assembly and fitting out, where the plugs were removed for easy access to the interior. So the things might well have been assembled correctly, but bolts got left out when they opened them up again to install cabin seats.
Hopefully for the airlines involved the process failure was with a team installing cabin fittings, that seems easier to fix than the entire assembly line in KS.
Now about those 321 options, how many does HA have again?