FAA Fines Boeing $13.57 Million for Post-TWA Flight 800 Deadline Fixes
Boeing
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of $13.57 million against The Boeing Company for failing to meet a deadline to submit service instructions that would enable airlines to further reduce the risk of fuel tank explosions on more than 380 Boeing jetliners.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of the flying public,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Manufacturers must provide the necessary instructions so the airlines can comply with this important safety regulation.”
“We take this matter very seriously,” said Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We have issued hundreds of directives to eliminate fuel ignition sources over the past 16 years, and this step will add another layer of safety.”
Following the TWA 800 accident in July 1996, the FAA has issued 283 directives to prevent the ignition of vapors in and around commercial aircraft fuel tanks. On July 21, 2008, the FAA published the Fuel Tank Flammability Rule, which required manufacturers to develop design changes and service instructions for installing systems to further reduce fuel tank flammability.
The rule gave the two companies that design affected aircraft until Dec. 27, 2010, to submit service instructions for FAA approval. The FAA alleges that in January 2010, Boeing committed to provide the instructions by the deadline. The instructions were to explain how to install systems that would replace the oxygen in airplane fuel tanks with non-flammable nitrogen gas, reducing the risk of explosion.
Boeing missed the deadline for submitting service instructions for the 747s by 301 days, delivering them to the FAA on Oct. 24, 2011. The company was 406 days late in submitting service instructions for the 757s. In total, 383 U.S.-registered Boeing aircraft are affected by these delays.
Airbus, the other manufacturer required to develop instructions for retrofitting certain models of its airplanes, met the Dec. 27, 2010, deadline.
The Fuel Tank Flammability Rule requires airlines to retrofit half of its fleet by 2014, and complete the retrofit by 2017. An airline trade group has proposed an extension of those two dates because of the service instruction delay for certain Boeing aircraft.
The FAA expects that most, if not all, operators will meet both the 2014 and 2017 deadlines, even if they received service instructions later than anticipated. The FAA has advised the trade group that the agency is not considering any extensions to the 2017 deadline for completing the fleet retrofit. However, the agency will consider extending the 2014 deadline if necessary, based on the specific circumstances for a particular operator.
The total amount of the proposed civil penalty against Boeing is $13,574,400.
Boeing has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the Agency.
Federal Aviation Administration
Category: Airnation
Wow. FAA at its best. Lets see, missed the 747 deadline by 401 days, the 757 by 406 days and the FAA is just now getting around to fining? Somebody really asleep at the wheel on this one. Oh well, Huerta must be getting ready to appear before committee for confirmation hearings. Then they give Boeing 30 days to respond. Its much more urgent when it is money and not safety.
The Feds doing what they do best…right Ed? NOT MUCH!!
Except for spending money.
James,
What they do best is to be stupid, inept and dishonest, at any cost to aviation safety. The saddest part of this story is that there are some very good, honest and professional folks still trying to make a difference. I know some and I really feel sorry for them for they are not only trying to make things safer, they are trying to do it fighting the riff raff, bottom feeding low life scum suckers that have proven themselves to be money hungry, dishonest and inept but will do anything to get promoted or get in line for a “perk”. Don’t stand in their way or you run the risk of being destroyed by the worst of the worst. John Allen, Peggy Gilligan, Clay Foushee and others in the puzzle palace (800 Independence Ave) know whats going on but would rather suck rocks than to attempt to fix it. That’s how aviation safety works today. Sad yet they won’t consider meeting with the folks that could start it down the right road but by God they will destroy the honest ones for making the attempt. Too many of the morons have already been promoted and they sure don’t want to change anything. It is just too grand collecting their $200,000 a year (with bonus).
Safety is just who gets what money.
Every July 17, in my neck of the woods, the news media reports this horrific crash and the loss of life. I believe to actual cause of this terrible accident is “UNKNOWN”
The 747 exploded because of the “so called explosive vapors” in the center fuel tank of the aircraft.
After a $200,000,000 MILLION investigation lasting four years (4) with the FBI, NTSB and the FAA a “Probable Cause” (it’s called probable because it is not an exact known cause) was the fuel tank.
The FAA is not quite sure how aircraft manufacturers are going to install an “inerting system” to prevent explosive vapors. The inerting system design is not functional, expensive to install, if it is feasible and has a potential to cause more problems and may be dangerous.
I am still not sure how safe it is to pump 190 degree hot nitrogen with 10% oxygen still in it into aircraft fuel tanks using the aircraft bleed air system that is contaminated with exhaust byproducts!
The FAA has no idea what to do here since it has been “16 years” since the accident. Each year that goes by the FAA comes out with some “Public Relations” ploy to show the public that they are still on it!
PLEASE VIEW THE INERTING SYSTEM DESIGN!
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/inert-tank-debuts-in-airline-service-203480/
PLEASE VIEW NEWS 12 LONG ISLAND THE CRASH OF TWA 800
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06isLbBMP_w&feature=channel&list=UL
The question here is does the FAA really know what is doing? I believe the answer is No! There is currently no safe effective system to install and the really big question is…….is the fuel tank explosion the real cause?
“THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FUEL TANK EXPLOSION IN A BOEING 747 SINCE FLIGHT 800″
Richard Wyeroski, former FAA Safety Inspector
FAA WHISTLEBLOWERS ALLIANCE MEMBER
So what do you think caused the explosion Richard?
James:
During my News 12 feature, the reporter that was on the scene and I discussed the “SHOE BOMBER” potential. Obviously in 1996 no one heard of a shoe bomber. However there was explosive residue found in the wreckage of Flight 800 and the the FBI lead investigator shot this down right away as being a bomb sniffing dog exercise that was previously conducted using this aircraft!.
I am afraid this crash is going into the category of “WHO SHOT JFK”
This is why I am “on” the FAA for pushing an “inerting system” for fuel tanks when this is not the cause?!
FAA always shots flies with a shot gun
regards
Rich
They gave them until 2010 to fix it!!!??? WHAT???
And it sounds pretty much like they’ve done nothing. You gotta love the Feds!!!
I agree with Richard. While I do not know what caused the crash, I’ve followed dozens of crash investigations, and studied those investigations in-depth.
I have never agreed with the “explosive vapor” theory, and while I am not a conspiracy theory person, do think there is some sort of cover up involved here.
Just my opinion.