Lockheed Martin Potentially Mixed Up Structural Fasteners in Most F-35s

Airforce Magazine ^ | 01/30/20 | John A. Tirpak

[rktman]

Careful! Mixing up fastners IS a big deal.

[Moonman62]

Taxpayers want what we paid a fortune to get.

[riverrunner]

Must give the pilots a lot of confidence.

[grobdriver]

Another Lockheed official said components are built with “twice the strength specified,”

At four times the cost.
Typical... although if there was to be a mistake, better it be stronger fasteners were used rather than weaker.

[Moonman62]

Both fasteners are called “eddie bolts” and are similar in appearance except for a number stamped on them.

...

Obviously, it would take an enormous amount of resources to make them look different /s

[montag813]

And how much have taxpayers paid Lockheed for this model?

[nuconvert]

“A Lockheed spokeswoman said the two parts are “very difficult to distinguish, visually.””

And apparently no one thought to put a little paint on one so they could tell the difference

[Moonman62]

Both fasteners are called “eddie bolts” and are similar in appearance except for a number stamped on them. The titanium bolts cost about $5 apiece, while the Inconel parts cost about $20 each.

...

That’s the cost to LM. What did LM charge the taxpayer?

[ClearCase_guy]

Duct tape can fix this right up.

[Arones]

The Lockheed spokesman said an initial analysis concluded that “titanium has sufficient strength in locations that called for Inconel eddie bolts.”

Tell me then, Mr Lockheed, why did YOUR design call for a heavier and more expensive bolt?

[Joe 6-pack]

Curious how they "accidentally" used the cheaper bolts in lieu of the more expensive, stronger bolts, and not the other way 'round.

One thing I've found rather odd in life is the frequency of "mistakes" that work to the benefit of the party making them.

[PGR88]

Don’t worry, it will only cost a couple billions to fix.

[KC Burke]

[RitchieAprile]

Probably because the bolts are intended for areas exposed to high temperatures and corrosive gases, as the article indicates...

[twister881]

Amen. It’s highly likely the stronger fasteners are needed at critical failure areas such as wing joints. LM should be made to pay for this inexcusable foul up and make inspections & take corrective action on the entire fleet ASAP.

[Rashputin]

"The titanium bolts cost about $5 apiece, while the Inconel parts cost about $20 each."

$15 per bolt profit explains why they both have the same name and extremely similar appearance.

[null and void]

In a just world LM would be given an opportunity to do this. Or else!

[rktman]

Seen one or two of those during my career. 🚀😁

[ocrp1982]

There are many different grades of Inconel and Titanium alloys.
Considering the application they most likely spec’d Grade 5 Titanium and Inconel 725.
The properties wrt the various strengths are very similar with one exception being the category of Ultimate Strength where the Inconel has a 20% advantage.