Boeing has launched an investigation into a quality problem with its undelivered 787 Dreamliners. Reports suggest that hundreds of fasteners have been incorrectly installed, but there is no immediate safety risk.
Incorrectly installed fasteners
Boeing’s woes continue as another quality lapse has been discovered in its manufacturing processes. 2024 has been an especially difficult year for the American manufacturer, which began with the blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. Several lapses have been discovered since then, and Boeing has suffered in its manufacturing and its order books.
According to a report from Reuters earlier today, Boeing is investigating another quality lapse. This time, the manufacturer discovered hundreds of fasteners incorrectly installed on its undelivered 787 Dreamliner aircraft, assembled in Charleston, South Carolina. Reuters said that the information came from two people who were familiar with the matter.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying
Boeing puts together the 787s in Charleston, with pieces of the aircraft flown in from several places around the world. During final assembly, a lightweight carbon-composite skin is attached to skeletal supports inside the fuselage sections called longerons. The incorrectly installed fasteners were torqued from the head instead of the nut. Reports say that more than 900 fasteners were affected per plane.
Boeing told Simple Flying,
“Our 787 team is checking fasteners in the side-of-body area of some undelivered 787 Dreamliner airplanes to ensure they meet our engineering specifications. The in-service fleet can continue to safely operate. We are taking the time necessary to ensure all airplanes meet our delivery standards prior to delivery. We are working closely with our customers and the FAA and keeping them updated.”
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker had a previously planned visit to Boeing’s South Carolina facilities for Friday, and he now plans to discuss the newly discovered lapse during that visit.
Recent Boeing news
Boeing is opening a new facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, for some of its combat aircraft programs. In 2024, the manufacturer plans to offer about 200 engineering jobs, and in the coming years, that number is expected to double.
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Last month was difficult for the American manufacturer in terms of orders. In May, Boeing only received orders for four aircraft, all from EVA Air. The Taiwanese carrier ordered 787-10 Dreamliners, the largest variant of the 787 family. For the second consecutive month, Boeing did not receive a single order for its 737 MAX aircraft, following its recent troubles surrounding the type. Manufacturing was also down to 24 aircraft, less than double Boeing’s output in the previous year.