Cracks in wing hinges sideline 10 Hornets

[unhappycamper]

Cracks in wing hinges sideline 10 Hornets
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 15:37:50 EST

Ten F/A-18 Hornets have been grounded and 20 others placed on flight restrictions after “fatigue cracks” were found in some wing-panel hinges, a Navy spokesman said Thursday.

The Navy in early November completed the inspections of nearly 480 in-service Hornets from the Navy and Marine Corps fleet, a move directed by an Oct. 23 inspection bulletin.

The inspections were prompted by the discovery in early October of cracks in wing-panel hinges on 15 aircraft. All Navy and Marine Corps Hornets were to be inspected within the next 15 flight hours.

“We are very encouraged by the results and project minimal operational impact,” Navy spokesman Lt. Clay Doss said.

More than half of the Navy and Marine Corps Hornets are past their original service life of 6,000 flight hours.


Article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_hornets_110708w/%2e