Flight Safety Foundation Aviation Mechanics Bulletin 1988

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November–December 2003

Faulty Wire Installation Cited in A320 Control Problem 24 pages. [PDF 219K]

The airplane began banking left during takeoff from Frankfurt, Germany, and the captain was unable to correct the bank with normal use of controls. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Investigation said that two pairs of wires on a flight control computer were reversed during maintenance.

September–October 2003

Continued Limits Recommended on Use of Cellular Telephones in Aircraft 24 pages. [PDF 219K]

The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority included the recommendation in its report on tests that measured cellular telephone interference with avionics. Other reports from the United States and Australia cite more than 200 occurrences in which cellular telephones and other personal electronic devices were believed to have interfered with aircraft avionic equipment.

July–August 2003

Fatigue Cracking Cited in Boeing 777 Engine Failure 24 pages. [PDF 285K]

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said that a technical analysis of the incident showed that the fatigue cracking led to failure of a variable-stator-vane control lever, which caused a variable stator vane to close, resulting in disruption of the airflow on passing blades.

May–June 2003

Aviation Mechanics Bulletin 50th Anniversary 24 pages. [PDF 279K]

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Aviation Mechanics Bulletin, this issue is a reprint of the first issue of the bulletin, published in May–June 1953, and selected articles from subsequent issues that year.

March–April 2003

Faulty Repair of Fuel-control Unit Cited in Engine Flameout 24 pages. [PDF 686K]

A report by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission said that symptoms of engine overspeeding in the Hughes 369D helicopter were improperly diagnosed for more than 2 1/2 years before the accident.

January–February 2003

Turbine-disk Corrosion Cited in HS 748 Engine Failure and Fire 24 pages. [PDF 140K]

The final report by the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that causal factors in the nonfatal accident included the failures of maintenance personnel to identify the corrosion and to identify the inadequate fit of engine-turbine-assembly-seal members.