NTSB Preliminary report on door plug blowout: bolts were not there

[thewayne]

Not much to say, really. If something had caused the door to pop out and the bolts were in-place, these stop fittings are supposed to arrest the bolts' vertical movement. There would be evidence in those fittings of stopping the movement, either scratches or deformation or something.

And 'tweren't there.

"Overall, the observed damage patterns and absence of contact damage or deformation around holes associated with the vertical movement arrestor bolts and upper guide track bolts in the upper guide fittings, hinge fittings, and recovered aft lower hinge guide fitting indicate that the four bolts that prevent upward movement of the MED [mid exit door] plug were missing before the MED plug moved upward off the stop pads."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/four-bolts-were-missing-from-boeing-737-before-door-plug-blew-off-ntsb-says/

Comments

[graydon]

There's a take that says that doesn't matter.

Boeing said the bolts were there. They weren't there.

From the FAA's perspective, all else is at most secondary detail. "Why" isn't relevant; it's not the FAA's job to make Boeing's processes function, merely to insist that they DO function.

And in this case, there's no good-faith take, however contorted. The process did not function.

(We know exactly why not if the leak turns out to be creditable.)

I think it's likely that the lack of a good-faith interpretation is going to matter.

[disneydream06]

Given a choice, I will fly somebody else.
Assuming I fly again any time soon. lol...

[thewayne]

I have really enjoyed Airbus jets, and their cockpit design is much smarter than Boeing's.

[disneydream06]

I need to start saving my pennies so I can go some where. lol......