boeingbatteryprobe980.jpg
The NTSB says while investigators have confirmed fire burned one of the batteries on a Boeing 787, they don't yet know the cause. (NTSB image)

NTSB says no cause found yet for Boeing 787 battery fire

BY Josh Kerns  on January 24, 2013 @ 12:06 pm (Updated: 5:03 pm - 1/24/13 )

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board says the fire that burned a battery onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Boston is unprecedented, and investigators are now trying to figure out why it happened despite so many safeguards built into the system.

At a news briefing in Washington, D.C. Thursday updating the progress of their investigation, NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman called the incident "a very serious air safety concern."

Hersman said investigators have found signs of fire, short circuiting and what is called "thermal runaway" or overcharging of the lithium ion batteries in their initial probe of the fire that caused an emergency evacuation at Boston's Logan Airport Jan. 7.

But Hersman said there are no definitive signs yet of a cause. Investigators from the NTSB, Boeing, the FAA and Japan's aviation authority are all taking part in the investigation of that fire, and another incident involving an ANA Dreamliner that caused an emergency landing. She said they are "very early" in their investigation.

"We have to understand why this battery led to fire when there were so many protections," Hersman said.

Hersman said while the NTSB is investigating the cause, it will ultimately be up to the FAA and aviation officials around the world to determine when the 787 can safely return to service. Analysts say it's likely the fleet of 50 will remain grounded for the foreseeable future.

"We do not expect to see fire events on an airplane. This is a very serious air safety event," Hersman said.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (4)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Clue
    January 24, 2013 11:31 am
    Toyota has been "very" hesitant placing Lithium batteries in the Prius.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    787 hit the market to soon? -
    January 24, 2013 12:40 pm
    what's this I hear a battery blew up during testing? 787 Battery Blew Up In '06 Lab Test, Burned Down Building http://www.aviationpros.com/news/10858095/787-battery-blew-up-in-06-lab-test-burned-down-building
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Grumpy1963 wrote...
    Test Setup
    January 24, 2013 2:56 pm
    Read the article, the battery fire at the test lab was a test setup with a test battery charger. Some of the safety systems in the battery system were disabled for the test which is probably why that on burned up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Read the article - Read the story -
    January 24, 2013 7:13 pm
    fire that burned a battery onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Boston's Logan Airport Jan. 7. Some of the safety systems in the battery system were disabled for the test which is probably why that one burned up. Did they forget to Enable them safety systems in the battery system on them that did burn up? Can't leave no stone unturned!! For God sake I have no answers if you do post it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }