TWU makes fox news

[iluvaa]

the public has no clue who is doing maintance on the airplanes this is our chance to let them know please dont let this go without a P.R. blitz this is our chance and the window is small

 

[strikeforce]

I thought United had one like that also. Same type of jet.

United's had a 20 inch crack that developed. I'm all for a P.R. Blitz, but AA's track record with numerous recent incidents doesn't look good right now. Plus, feds 24 million fine doesn't help either.

 

[FWAAA]

That's the "chem-milling" process during manufacturing where the original skin thickness is reduced in the area between stringers. That is why it looks perfectly cut out.
If you looked at that area from a certain distance and angle, you would see "square" or "rectangular" like depressions between the rivets. but they are not depressions, they are "chem-milled" areas.

Thanks. Good explanation.

This wasn't the best picture of the hole, but it looks like it was cut out with one of those precision laser cutting machines.

 

[Hopeful]

Thanks. Good explanation.

This wasn't the best picture of the hole, but it looks like it was cut out with one of those precision laser cutting machines.

Add that to age, countless pressurization/depressuriation cylces day after day, year after year...it seems that these chem milled areas might weaken long before a non-chem milled skin section.

 

[stillbigdogs]

online.wsj.com/.../SB10001424052702304786904575580991048460452. html -


WN isn't the only carrier this has happened too!

Keep in mind we had a 757 with a milled area above by the entry door let loose a few momnths ago AND WE DO our own maintenance....

 

[eolesen]

Add that to age, countless pressurization/depressuriation cylces day after day, year after year...it seems that these chem milled areas might weaken long before a non-chem milled skin section.

That does seem to be the pattern emerging, no?...

 

[Bandit6794]

If this was a chemically milled failure then its Boeings fault....If it was fastner or corrosion failure: it was the MRO,s fault. Hell I bet the MRO that WN uses doesn't even have Eddy current tooling.....Just a large pencil

 

[Hopeful]

That does seem to be the pattern emerging, no?...

I would say so as in the AA 757. Could be a different story with the Southwest 737 as it also affected the lap joint!

 

[MCI transplant]

<_< -------- Eric, if a painted fuselage skin is cracked, believe me, you can see it! Normally there will be a faint black line at the crack.This is caused by oxidation from the two metal surfaces rubbing against each other. But, that will only be true if some fool doesn't paint over an existing crack. -------- Justification? 40 years Aircraft experience! And no! I don't paint Aircraft! 😉