Sounds very similar to the issue that brought down that JAL 747 some years ago, faulty repair to the pressure dome in the tail after a tail strike... Mike Gammon > > From: Bill Hough <psa188@juno.com> > Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 07:06:00 -0800 > To: AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU > Subject: SF Gate: FAA orders 747 inspections after investigation of China Airlines crash > > =20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. > The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2003/02/05/n= > ational2019EST0862.DTL > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Wednesday, February 5, 2003 (AP) > FAA orders 747 inspections after investigation of China Airlines crash > LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press Writer > > > (02-05) 17:19 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- > Federal safety regulators on Wednesday ordered new inspections of Boeing > 747 fuselages as a result of the investigation into the China Airlines > crash in the Taiwan Strait in May. > The plane broke into four pieces in flight, killing all 225 aboard. > The Federal Aviation Administration ordered U.S. operators of 747s to > check if a metal repair patch, or doubler, was used to cover scratches or > cracks on the underside of the fuselage near the aircraft's tail. Doublers > are used to double the strength of the aircraft's skin after it's been > repaired. > Investigators found scratches and a 15-inch crack under a doubler that h= > ad > been attached to the plane after the tail hit a runway in 1980, according > to the FAA. The part was recovered from the ocean. > Airlines that operate 747s are required to check if they've made a simil= > ar > repair. If they have, they must remove the plate, inspect the skin > underneath and fix any cracks or scratches. Undetected scratches could > lead to cracks from metal fatigue that could cause the plane to break up, > the FAA said. > There are about 400 Boeing 747s in the U.S. fleet and 1,000 worldwide, > according to Liz Verdier, Boeing spokeswoman. > "The actual number of people who have to do the inspections is going to = > be > very small, but everybody's got to look," Verdier said. > The company in November told airlines to make the inspections and repair= > s, > if necessary. > The FAA also said it had recently gotten a report that scratches were > found under a doubler on another 747 as a result of an inspection Boeing > requested. > The FAA is sending the advisories to its counterpart agencies overseas. > Investigators have not determined the probable cause of the China Airlin= > es > accident. > > On the Net: > Federal Aviation Administration: www.faa.gov > > =20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Copyright 2003 AP >