737 grounding

[stingray]

Have just been advised through the grapevine that all NZ and Oz 737s have been grounded due a wiring problem.

Hope no one was planning on going anywhere

[sniff]

Friends of mine just landed in CHC, ex WLG.

2145 hrs

[Bruce]

Air NZs web page showing flight details show no current or expected delays - If they have been grounded there would be enough disruption that a statement would be issued to the media - either the grapevine is well ahead of the play or its got a bit tangled somewhere.

[flyjoe180]

A South African airline ceased flying after one of it's 737's had an engine fall off last year. Nothing else for the FLUF. Other than that, a 737 just flew past here in Wellington. Nice day for it.

[beagle]

saw a qantas one through the mist here this morning at about 2am, must have been just cargo though. do they do cargo night runs, just the belly full

[nzav8a]

QANTAS use a 767-300 AKL-CHC-SYD a couple of nights a week freight only.

[beagle]

this was a 737

[sniff]

Maybe this is the reason?

www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/29/223347/faa-calls-for-heightened-737-trim-actuator-vigilance.html

FAA calls for heightened 737 trim actuator vigilance
By John Croft

The US FAA wants operators of a wide variety of Boeing 737s to perform repetitive inspections, lubrications and repairs or overhauls to the horizontal stabilizer trim actuators on the aircraft to prevent possible loss-of-control accidents.

FAA’s proposed airworthiness directive (AD), issued today, comes as a result of a Boeing design review and safety analysis of the trim units on all its aircraft following the January 2000 loss of an Alaska Airlines MD-83 and all 88 passengers and crew due to an improperly lubricated jackscrew.

During Boeing’s review, one operator reported “extensive corrosion” of the primary load path ball bearings in the ballscrew assembly of the trim mechanism of a Boeing 757, according to the FAA.

The agency says the trim mechanisms in the Boeing aircraft, although different in design to the failed MD-83 system, perform “similar functions and have the same airplane-level effect following failure”.

FAA notes that the condition, “if not corrected could result an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the aircraft”.

Given that the ballscrew assembly on the 757 is similar to the system on the 737, the FAA contends that “all of these models may be subject to the same unsafe condition” and says it is considering a similar rulemaking for the 757 trim system.

[beagle]

if thats the case then 40 sqn would have got an AD as well. So does it come from the FAA or Boeing

[sniff]

Dunno, Beags.
I would assume Mr Boing tells every operator, while FAA would ensure all US registered Boings comply.