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Author Topic: Boeing 737 NG Products Affected By Premature Pickle Fork Cracks-FAA Issues AD  (Read 3731 times)

Offline joeyb747

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"The FAA have issued Airworthiness Directive AD-2019-20-02 requiring repetitive inspections of the so called "pickle forks", a suspension system for wing-fuselage mounts, for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes.

The FAA reports: "In September 2019, the FAA received reports of cracking discovered in the left and right hand side outboard chords of the station (STA) 663.75 frame fittings and failsafe straps adjacent to the stringer S-18A straps on multiple Boeing Model 737-800 airplanes during a passenger-to-freighter conversion. The affected airplanes had accumulated between 35,578 and 37,329 total flight cycles. Cracking in the STA 663.75 frame fitting outboard chords and failsafe straps adjacent to the stringer S-18A straps, if not addressed, could result in failure of a Principal Structural Element (PSE) to sustain limit load. This condition could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane and result in loss of control of the airplane."


From:

http://avherald.com/h?article=4cd92d2a

"After the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) on October 3, 2019, operators of Boeing 737NG aircraft, models 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER, were forced to check for cracks on left and right-hand side suspension system, which connects the fuselage with the wings. The system, nicknamed the pickle fork, was designed to safely handle 90,000 flight cycles – the total lifespan of a Boeing 737 NG. However, cracks were found on two 737NG fuselages that “accumulated between 35,578 and 37,329” cycles, according to the FAA’s issued AD."

From:

https://www.aerotime.aero/rytis.beresnevicius/24050-boeing-737-ng-affected-pickle-forks

See Also:

https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-pickle-fork/

« Last Edit: October 17, 2019, 03:41:02 PM by joeyb747 »