Nwa Says Dc9 Parts Not Damaged

Source: The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN Publication date: Feb 25, 2000

[Northwest Airlines Corp.] said Thursday metal shavings found with tail-wing parts on three of its planes similar to the Alaska Airlines jet that crashed last month came from repairs and didn't indicate damage. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered U.S. carriers to inspect more than 1,100 MD-80s and similar aircraft after horizontal stabilizers became the focus of the Alaska Airlines crash that killed all 88 people aboard. The inspections turned up 22 planes with possible damage.

Northwest was one of several airlines that found metal shavings or residue in the grease on its planes' stabilizer jackscrews. The St. Paul, Minn.-based carrier said the shavings on the DC9s turned out to be aluminum drill filings from sheet metal repairs.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash, didn't immediately comment on whether the other planes found in inspections to have possible damage may actually have had residue from repairs. That could indicate that jackscrew damage may not have been as widespread on U.S. planes as initial inspections showed. The FAA also declined to comment.

The jackscrew became the focus of [Alaska Air Group Inc.]'s Alaska Airlines crash after investigators recovered the part and found metal shavings of the same material as a gimbal nut, which normally would be attached to the jackscrew. The nut, found later, was heavily damaged.

The jackscrew helps lift and lower the horizontal stabilizer, which is a movable part on the plane's tail that controls the aircraft's vertical pitch.

Publication date: Feb 25, 2000 ) 2000, NewsReal, Inc.

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