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Northwest Airlines Inspections Find No Widespread Damage on Similar Planes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Northwest Airlines, one of several U.S. carriers that found metal shavings or residue on their planes' stabilizer jackscrews during recent inspections, said Thursday that the shavings found on three of its DC9s were actually from aluminum drill filings from sheet metal repairs, and did not indicate damage. The inspections, ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a fatal Alaska Airlines crash last month, turned up 22 planes with possible damage, but it remains unclear how many of these may actually have had residue from repairs. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, but has not commented on the inspections.

Key Takeaways:

  • Northwest Airlines' inspections found aluminum drill filings from sheet metal repairs on three of its DC9s, which were initially thought to be metal shavings from damage.
  • The FAA ordered inspections of over 1,100 MD-80s and similar aircraft after the Alaska Airlines crash.
  • 22 planes were found to have possible damage from inspections, but it is unclear how many may actually have had residue from repairs.
  • The inspections were conducted to determine the cause of the Alaska Airlines crash, which killed all 88 people on board.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the Alaska Airlines crash.
  • The FAA declined to comment on the inspections and the possible cause of the metal shavings on the planes' stabilizer jackscrews.
  • The jackscrew, which helps lift and lower the horizontal stabilizer, was identified as a potential cause of the crash after investigators found metal shavings similar to those from a gimbal nut.

Statistics:

  • 1,100: The number of MD-80s and similar aircraft ordered by the FAA to be inspected.
  • 22: The number of planes found to have possible damage from inspections.
  • 88: The number of people killed in the Alaska Airlines crash.
  • 3: The number of Northwest Airlines planes found to have aluminum drill filings from sheet metal repairs.

Sources:

  • Bloomberg News
  • Northwest Airlines Corp.
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Alaska Air Group Inc.
  • National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

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