Boeing says some of its 737 Max planes may have defective parts

[nitpicker]

Source: CNN

New York (CNN Business) — Boeing on Sunday said some of its 737 planes, including many 737 Max aircraft, may have faulty parts on their wings. It's the latest problem Boeing faces as it tries to get its most important and popular airplane, the grounded 737 Max, back in the air.

Working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing said it has reached out to airlines that fly 737 planes, advising them to inspect their slat track assemblies on Max and NG aircraft. The 737 NG series includes the 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 planes.

Leading edge slats are an aerodynamic control surface that extend from the front of the wing. Some the tracks may not meet manufacturing standards and may need to be replaced, Boeing and the FAA said. They said if the parts are found to be defective, airlines should replace them before returning the planes to service.
(snip)

The company discovered the problem Friday, when Boeing was meeting with the parts supplier. Boeing employees noticed some of the parts were not heat treated, which led them to believe there might be a safety issue.
(snip)

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/02/business/boeing-faa-737-slat-track-assemblies/index.html

[TrogL]

1. Errr...isn't that kind of important?

I make my living driving metal components from place to place. One of the many stops is usually heat treating, and this is for oilline pipe, which I'm sure has less tolerances than aircraft components.

[turbinetree]

5. Extremely important during take off and landing to make sure

that the wing has a enough lift to maintain control during that critical time of operation they are in front of the wing to help create the increase curve or camber area of the wing that you see when landing or taking off, that work in conjunction with the flaps.

I have worked on many commercial aircraft in my life and all types, and the B737-100-700, were the final types that I worked on, they were outstanding aircraft, even if I could go back into the industry (Retired) I would get certified to work on the 900 and 800 Max and be trained on the differences and familiarization which is a FAA Part 43 requirement to sign off the log book for flight.

I realize that Boeing and the FAA is getting hit with a reality right now, but people need to understand, that "all" airplanes have a flaw(s), do not get me wrong with what happened in the MCAS issue, that in my opinion was stupid to have one sensor being used for the AOA (Angele of Attack) sensor and then not having the simulator training and thinking that automation was the key factor and there would be no runaway condition on that elevator.
Because that sensor drives the elevator for trim control of the nose of the aircraft, but other factors have to be taken into consideration of what is going on, I still believe that Boeing makes a safe aircraft, along with the other manufactures.

My biggest issue is the drive to create the manufacturing production setting like it is a car factory setting, when at one time they issued a plan to build lets say 15 planes a month, and now they are up to 50 a month.....................the wall street mentality, that production speed is good, which places more burden on the engineering and the certification process, and the just in time delivery of the parts from outside vendors...........................everyone is looking for blame in this situation, maybe those involved need to look in the mirror and ask is wall street more important to the bottom line......................... or is flight safety, my attitude when I was in the industry was flight safety, I would and it was my job function to make sure that plane was safe if not it was grounded, that was my job to ground that plane, I did not care, my license and the lives of the passenger was and still is / are the most important, because my name is still on those log books until that plane is parked in the desert.

And if I were to release an un-airworthy aircraft knowing that it was, I could be charged up to with murder if something were to happen to the passengers on that plane, and that was not going to happen ...........................

[Bengus81]

6. Yeah...Beech was doing heat treating on certain parts of his aircraft.............

When he first started the company bearing his name in 1932. But I guess Boeing figures they don't need to.

[safeinOhio]

2. Bringing value to shareholders.

from 2018..
INDUSTRIALS
Boeing raises its dividend 20%, boosts buyback plan to $20 billion, reaffirming its bullish outlook.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/17/boeing-raises-its-dividend-20percent-boosts-buyback-plan-to-20-billion.html

If they had spent half that on product quality there would be no problem and their stock wouldn't be dropping like a 787.

[Sherman A1]

3. What Boeing has is

A defective design and pretty much everything follows from there.

[Maxheader]

4. If your by the window and a little ways aft of the wing..

You can see the rear slat tracks as the control surfaces are extended during landing...

They take a pretty good beating...