By DAN RICHMAN
P-I REPORTER
Federal regulators said Tuesday that four similar problems in one month aboard Alaska Airlines 737-400s, each requiring an emergency landing, were not caused by faulty maintenance or operations.
And earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration concluded it will require no changes to Boeing's 737-400 fleet to remedy the problem, which kept the Alaska Airlines planes' trailing wing flaps from extending fully.
Tuesday's FAA statement leaves unclear what caused three Boeing 737-400s operated by the Seattle-based carrier to declare emergency landings in Alaska on Jan. 10, 11, 20 and 26.
No property damage or injuries resulted.
In such precautionary emergency landings, planes must increase their speed to maintain lift, increasing the odds they might roll off the runway's end. Emergency equipment is called out, and the flight receives priority treatment.
Alaska Airlines' operation and maintenance complied with federal regulations, according to two spokespeople with the FAA. The investigation, promised and completed within 30 days of the last of the four incidents, was performed by the FAA's Alaska Airlines Certificate Management Offices. Those offices "specialize in the certification, surveillance and inspection of major air carriers," according to the FAA's Web site.
Earlier this month, FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the FAA had concluded it will require no changes to Boeing's 737-400 fleet to remedy the problem.
Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Amanda Bielawski wrote in e-mails Tuesday that the airline has completed inspections of all 40 of its 737-400s. But, she said, the airline has "not yet come to any conclusions" about the cause of the incidents and is continuing to review with Boeing "a host of factors that can impact wing-flap performance."
She said the airline has removed the doors normally covering the trailing flaps from all those planes.
"The review involves looking at a host of factors (including the functioning of wing-flap doors) that can impact wing-flap performance," she said.
She also said no other, similar incidents have occurred.
Boeing spokeswoman Liz Verdier said in an e-mail Tuesday, "We continue to collaborate with Alaska Airlines by providing them technical assistance during their review of 737-400 wing flaps."
The FAA's Kenitzer has stressed that the agency doesn't regard the failure of flaps to operate properly to be a safety hazard. In his e-mail Tuesday, he wrote, "I want to re-emphasize that flaps are not necessary to safely land an airplane."
"But," he added, "when the flaps don't deploy and are expected, this is not handled as routine."
Mike Fergus, another FAA spokesman, described the problem as a "flap-panel failure."
Samuel Nelson, 50, a resident of Metlakatla, Alaska, said nearby Ketchikan airport, where at least two of the incidents occurred, is served only by Alaska Airlines. A fan of scanning radios, which cover police, fire and aircraft radio traffic, he said the incidents were dramatic and alarming to hear.
Told of the latest developments in the FAA and airline investigations, he said Tuesday: "I would definitely be watching and questioning. I would be kind of apprehensive."
Source: Seattlepi.com
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