Posted on 03/15/2024 4:09:49 PM PDT by rxsid
Discovery of Missing Panel on Boeing 737 Causes Closure of Medford Airport Runways
Earlier today, an inbound United Airlines 737-824, Flight UA433, prompted the full closure of both runways at the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR). The incident, while causing a temporary disruption, concluded with no reported injuries.
Upon its safe landing, all passengers disembarked at Gate 5 without any complications. However, ground crews observed a missing panel on the Boeing aircraft. Details regarding the specific panel remain undisclosed at this time, but Medford Alert can confirm it was towards the bottom of the aircraft.
Amber Judd, the Director of MFR Airport, informed Medford Alert that the closure was essential as ground crews conducted thorough searches to ensure no debris posed a risk to aircraft operations. Fortunately, their search yielded no findings, and the runways reopened shortly thereafter.
Judd emphasized that the United Airlines crew could not pinpoint the exact location where the panel became detached. Despite the unsettling incident, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.
At present, the aircraft remains parked at the jet bridge at Gate 5 as investigators continue their examination. The damaged aircraft (N26226) is 25-years old (12/22/1998) and was originally a Continental Airlines plane prior to merging with United Airlines in 2011.
As the investigation progresses, further updates will be provided.
Medford Alert reached out to United Airlines and received the following response:
This afternoon United flight 433 landed safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel. We’ll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. We’ll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. Aircraft did not declare an emergency into MFR, as there was no indication of the damage during flight.
There were 139 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
That is what came to my mind as I read the title.
A close look at the photo shows that the panel construction is aluminum skins glued onto a honeycomb composite core. The core is made by a supplier for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. The original test records for the core material should be inspected. Who was this manufacturer?
“Missing” implies fell off or not installed.
I would describe that as “mostly corroded away”.
Aquestion that needs to be asked is: was this panel previously repaired and if was it repaired properly. There has been two incidents of the tail being ripped off because the skin delaminated at a repair site. If this occurred it could superficially look like a hing problem.
This plane is 25 yrs old.
Let’s blame the secretary of transportation. He fits the DEI profile too!
That’ll create a little drag.
Buttgeek? He’s a fag, but he’s also white and male.
Not sure where that puts him on the “dieversity totem pole”.
Neglect
Shatner’s Twilight Zone gremlin is back.
They should have used aluminum instead of that cardboard carbon.
#40 those must be the passengers in the river... : )
Aviation Ping!.....................
25 years old isn't a manufacturing issue, it is a maintenance issue. And that's on United for picking who to do the maintenance and inspection.
The damaged panel is made from kevlar face sheets with a honeycomb core, most aircraft fuselage and engine pylon fairing panels are. On Boeings they are not typically considered structural, as evidenced by the fastener spacing. Airbus panels are typically considered structural, with a much closer fastener spacing. This image shows the left side of the main gear wheel well, with the damaged panel just aft of the opening. The underside of the flap, about two feet outboard of the damaged panel, shows impact damage. Possibly FOD damage also impacted the damaged panel and started the failure of it. Fairing panels with a honeycomb core are also susceptible to water damage. A small hole can allow water to enter, which freezes and expands at altitude, causing more damage. The flap drive mechanism that the panel covers looks intact, it probably didn’t damage the panel from the inside. I don’t believe this is a Boeing problem at all. I would guess FOD from a rotating tire on gear retraction, or water ingestion and freezing.
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