FAA Continues Boeing 737 Wiring Inspections

As part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) continuing efforts to ensure fuel tank safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ordering airlines to inspect, within 60 days, fuel boost pump wiring on Boeing 737-100 through -500 series aircraft with 20,000 to 30,000 flight hours.

The inspections are necessary to ensure that the aircraft do not have a problem with chafing and electrical arcing between the fuel boost pump wiring and the surrounding conduit. The directive also requires the addition of a layer of Teflon sleeving to protect the fuel pump wires.

There are 1,131 Boeing 737s the U.S. fleet, 2,866 in worldwide. The FAA estimates that 215 U.S.-registered 737s, with 20,000 to 30,000 total flight hours, would be affected by this AD. The aircraft are operated by most major U.S. airlines. The estimated cost per aircraft is $1,800. The inspection notices do not affect newer generation Boeing 737 models - the 737-600, -700, an -800 - because they do not have electrical wires running through conduits within fuel tanks.