ana7872.jpg
The FAA has grounded U.S. based operations of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner after a second incident involving a faulty battery that sparked an emergency landing in Japan.(AP image)

FAA grounds Boeing 787 Dreamliners over battery problems

BY MyNorthwest.com  on January 16, 2013 @ 3:19 pm (Updated: 5:43 am - 1/17/13 )

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operating out of the U.S. over fears the plane's batteries could spark fires. Shortly after 787s in Europe, Qatar and India were also grounded.

The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive because of the meltdown of a lithium ion battery and threat of fire on board an All Nippon Airways 787 early Wednesday in Japan that prompted an emergency landing and evacuation.

"Before further flight, operators of U.S.-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe and in compliance," the FAA said in a statement.

"The FAA will work with the manufacturer and carriers to develop a corrective action plan to allow the U.S. 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible."

The Japanese incident followed a similar one on board another 787 last week at Boston's Logan Airport.

"The root cause of these failures is currently under investigation. These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment," the FAA said.

United Airlines is currently the only U.S. carrier operating the 787 with six of the new jetliners in service.

Japan's All Nippon Airways and Japan Air Lines both grounded their fleets of 787s earlier Wednesday after the latest incident.

The other airlines currently operating the 787 are Air India, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, LAN of Chile and LOT of Poland.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, Boeing wrote:

The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.

Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of The Boeing Company to assist.

We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.

Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."

"This is a very tough blow to the aircraft and Boeing," said former NTSB head and CBS aviation analyst Mark Rosenker. "Through this airworthiness directive they're going to keep these aircraft on the ground until they can prove to the FAA that the batteries are safe and in compliance with certification."

The FAA had already ordered a review of the 787's critical systems last week following a number of incidents.

Kevin Hyatt, President and CEO of the Alexandria, Va. based Flight Safety Foundation, told KIRO Radio while it was a difficult decision for the FAA, it was the right one to guarantee safety.

"Especially when you start to think about smoke or fire on board, that was probably the point then that more focus was going to be put on this area," he said.

Boeing shares fell two percent in after-hours trading to $72.80 after the FAA announcement.

MyNorthwest.com, Staff report
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Comments (27)


  • Add A Comment

  • Mo Gaud wrote...
    Widow Maker?
    January 16, 2013 11:25 pm
    Not hardly. More like teethimg problems. Pull your panties out of your crack girls, the sky is not falling.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    This is going to take awhile
    January 17, 2013 2:03 am
    The battery manufacturer said their investigation will take months.Since Yuasa makes Very High Quality products http://www.gsyuasa-lp.com/content/dnv-certifies-gs-yuasa-lithium-power-iso90012008-and-as91002004
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Yuasa is going to have to look hard at how the batteries are being managed
    January 17, 2013 2:53 am
    http://www.thalesgroup.com/Case_Studies/Markets/Aerospace/20100726_-_Thales_technologies_onboard_the_B787/
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Oops.
    January 17, 2013 2:04 am
    Guess the 105 isn't the only "thud" any more.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    solar or rubber band power is the answer to all the -
    January 17, 2013 4:53 am
    787 problems.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    I had Chinses batteries before. They Suck.
    January 17, 2013 8:06 am
    I bought some rechargable batteries. I was in a hurry and noticed that they were from china when I got home. Anyway long story but they neverworked and damaged my batterie charger. What ever is going on with Chinese batteries they are crap and can catch fire and damage electronics.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Yuasa.
    January 17, 2013 8:21 am
    Most all Batteries are manufactured in China. The environmental regulations there are, shall we say, not in abundance. Thats why. I sold battery and battery packs for years and the major mistake that is made is application. The batteries are fine, its what your asking the battery system to do. At risk for heating is the battery charging cycles. Lithium has a narrow alley for fully charged and over charged. The latter is where overheating and fire can happen. Forget all the nonsense debate about union-non union South Carolina vs Seattle vs China vs liberal or redcoat. This is a design matter period. The only other explaination may be that the lithiums are showing defective after install and that's very very unlikely.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Get a Fat Hanster -
    January 17, 2013 8:34 am
    the hamster the 787 is turning the charging wheel to fast!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Pressman wrote...
    Duh !!
    January 17, 2013 11:55 am
    It's Bush's Fault !!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }