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InstantGratification

(191 posts)

2. Former AF aircraft maintainer here

Sun Apr 7, 2024, 04:40 PM

Apr 7

Engine cowlings coming off in flight is MUCH more likely to be because the ground crew didn't properly close it after inspecting/servicing the engine. Think checking/topping off the oil and things like that. That can also happen from a bird strike to the cowling damaging it in flight. It isn't at all likely to be a design or manufacturing defect in an aircraft that has been in service for years. There is a very low chance that this one falls on Boeing.

A side note: I'm not accusing any misconduct here, just making an observation. Did anyone else notice that while the audio of the pilot talking to controllers was the pilot declaring an in flight emergency and the controller giving the pilot a new heading to turn to (which you wouldn't do if it were on the ground), the video appeared to show the aircraft already on the ground. Looks to me like video and audio are from different phases of flight. In the air for the audio, landing roll out for the video.

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Highlight:

Boeing plane part falls off, strikes wing flap during takeoff in Denver [View all] riversedge Apr 7 OP

Fuck Boeing ZonkerHarris Apr 7 #1

Hear, hear. In the past, you needed Gremlins to do what these 737-800s do all by themselves. peppertree Apr 7 #5

You know, that could be maintenance and not Boeing. paleotn Apr 7 #7

My first thought WhiteTara Apr 7 #36

There can be many nodes in the chain of custody Layzeebeaver Apr 8 #56

I bet you would love DENVERPOPS Apr 8 #58

It's on Paramount+ also & YouTube has a lot of them, sometime under the other name "Mayday" EX500rider Apr 8 #72

Sure thing. Layzeebeaver Apr 9 #77

It take s a hell of a lot of maintenance to keep these things flyijng safely Warpy Apr 7 #9

Service industry here AKwannabe Apr 7 #22

That's the first place monopolies start to chisel money Warpy Apr 7 #29

Had a kitchen manager once who told me I washed my hands too much. Beartracks Apr 7 #34

Sounds like a conversation should be had with him by the various health and food safety folks n/t ArkansasDemocrat1 Apr 7 #45

Right? *I* watched the gross-out food handler's permit movie! Beartracks Apr 8 #60

Isn't hand soap THE CHEAPEST THING IN THE WHOLE KITCHEN? jmowreader Apr 8 #52

Wow, WITH the fruity scent, too?? Beartracks Apr 8 #59

Yup. Says it right on the jug. jmowreader Apr 8 #68

Exactly Deminpenn Apr 8 #54

My guess says that cowling parted company with the engine Warpy Apr 8 #67

Unlikely it was metal fatigue Deminpenn Apr 8 #69

Cracks are found at doors and windows in passenger aircraft Warpy Apr 8 #70

Again, unlikely Deminpenn Apr 8 #71

Fuck Trump nakocal Apr 7 #21

No, fuck Wall Street. Boeing got a CEO who is far more interested in shareholder profits than he is in PatrickforB Apr 7 #30

and I recently read DENVERPOPS Apr 9 #76

And just how long after building a plane should Boeing be responsible? Angleae Apr 7 #35

Damn right-poor babies worried about profit and to hell with human life Stargazer99 Apr 7 #47

Exactly. Scully Apr 8 #63

Not Boeing Aviation Pro Apr 7 #37

This is more likely to have been a maintenance error Ocelot II Apr 7 #40

Former AF aircraft maintainer here InstantGratification Apr 7 #2

It sounds like you know what you're talking about but after this MadameButterfly Apr 7 #3

Former maintainer? Yes. They do know what they're talking about. paleotn Apr 7 #8

Thank you. paleotn Apr 7 #10

Thank you! I appreciate the information. Tanuki Apr 7 #14

Thank you. Scruffy1 Apr 7 #16

Since you are certainly experienced here, can you say whether or not niyad Apr 7 #17

Yes InstantGratification Apr 7 #24

Thank you for that valuable information. Looking at those pieces niyad Apr 7 #38

What this person says n/t gay texan Apr 7 #33

Yup. This one isn't on Boeing, it's on the airline. Ocelot II Apr 7 #41

"Southwest Airlines plane part falls off, strikes wing flap during takeoff in Denver" BadgerMom Apr 8 #50

Thank you ailsagirl Apr 7 #49

Yep, agree Deminpenn Apr 8 #55

Meh. progressoid Apr 7 #4

Unless you are on the ground. twodogsbarking Apr 7 #6

Absolutely. paleotn Apr 7 #12

"Commercial airplanes are still the safest form of travel." speak easy Apr 7 #15

BOEING, WHERE FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. usonian Apr 7 #11

Does Boeing maintain aircraft years after delivery? paleotn Apr 7 #13

Reflecting previous gaffes. usonian Apr 7 #23

Ha! That's a good one. paleotn Apr 7 #25

This aircraft was manufactured in 2015 - KDVR putting "Boeing" in the headline rather than "Southwest" petronius Apr 7 #18

ATC Communications mockmonkey Apr 7 #19

Thank you! niyad Apr 7 #39

Is it just me? OR AKwannabe Apr 7 #20

Not really. Looks more like incompetence. Angleae Apr 7 #31

The pilot reported that the crew heard a "bang" before the cowling separated. LudwigPastorius Apr 7 #43

It's just you n/t Polybius Apr 7 #46

not... myohmy2 Apr 7 #26

Was William Shatner on that flight doc03 Apr 7 #27

Do not miss FeelingBlue Apr 7 #28

This is not a Boeing problem this is... Joe_michigan Apr 7 #32

My nephew began working for Boeing last summer SleeplessinSoCal Apr 7 #42

It sounds like Boeing cut the quality control literally down to nothing with the 737. cstanleytech Apr 7 #44

The 4th time? In as many months?? ailsagirl Apr 7 #48

So did the maintenance guy work for Southwest or Boeing? Kablooie Apr 8 #51

Maintenance is done by the airline, not the manufacturer Scully Apr 8 #64

In a nine-year-old airplane like this one, there are two possible causes jmowreader Apr 8 #53

It hasn't been but a couple of years DENVERPOPS Apr 8 #57

That does it for me! nickster48 Apr 8 #61

If they weren't taking flak... COL Mustard Apr 8 #62

Just heard Cherokee100 Apr 8 #65

User error or design error? Aussie105 Apr 8 #66

Planes are designed to have trained mechanics work on them, not idiots n/t EX500rider Apr 8 #73

The latches holding those cowlings together are about as idiot proof as they get. Angleae Apr 9 #75

The Seattle Times had a big article pfitz59 Apr 8 #74