Metal fatigue in certain skin sections of two Boeing 757s, including one that experienced rapid decompression at 31,000ft (9,450m), has spurred the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate repetitive inspections of the US-registered fleet.
The decompression incident occurred on an American Airlines 757 en route from Miami to Boston on 26 October.
None of the 154 passengers and six crew members was injured when a 0.3 x 0.45m (12 x 18in) rip developed in the skin above and behind the passenger entry door on the left side of the fuselage. The aircraft had accumulated 22,450 cycles.
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Another unidentified 757, which had accumulated 24,631 cycles, was found to have a 27cm (10.6in)-long crack just above the lap joint stringer 4L, says the FAA.
In a directive the FAA calls "interim action" and which covers 683 757-200s and -300s, operators must perform initial inspections on aircraft with more than 15,000 total flight cycles, and repetitive inspections every 30 to 300 cycles thereafter, depending on inspection method.
"An investigation is ongoing and no terminating action has been developed yet," says the FAA.
Source: Flight International
