Air New Zealand (ANZ) has suffered its third structural failure incident in just over a year. Part of the right inboard flap of one of its Boeing 747s fell into the Manukau Harbour shortly after take off from Auckland, New Zealand, on 30 August.
The 747-400's horizontal stabiliser and other sections of the flap were slightly damaged, but the pilots were unaware of the separation until landing at Los Angeles with 355 passengers and 17 crew on board. On the aircraft's first approach, the flaps would not extend fully, and the crew landed from the second approach using less than full flap. The airline is investigating the incident.
The 13-year-old airframe is the oldest in ANZ's eight-strong 747-400 fleet. The other seven have since undergone emergency checks.
On 24 August a 747-400 flight to Tokyo lost a composite wing fairing inspection panel above an engine.
In 2001 one of ANZ's Boeing 767s lost part of a wing. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission report blamed metal fatigue.
Source: Flight International
