737 MAX still not fixed: insider report

[CYXR 257]

This report is published here https://edpierson.com/ by a retired senior manager at Boeing's 737 Factory in Renton.  ``The paper underscores the likely role a chaotic and dangerously unstable production environment played in the accidents.  Mr. Pierson also puts forth three other plausible accident scenarios not addressed in the accident investigations. The 14-page report includes a timeline and an analysis that ties the two 737 MAX airplane crashes together in ways not previously reported.  Most importantly, Mr. Pierson’s analysis raises serious doubts as to the safety of the 737 MAX.  Alarmingly, the FAA’s recertification fixes do not address the problems identified in the report.``
 

Captain Edward F. Pierson's  impressive résumé  and the evidence he submitted to Congress in 2019 can be found here: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/PW/PW00/20191211/110296/HHRG-116-PW00-Wstate-PiersonE-20191211.pdf

 

[Chock 17,769]

Doesn't really add anything we didn't already know, although it does put it rather concisely and to the point in being only 14 pages long.

We can only hope something is done about it, but in the interim and as I've said before, I personally wouldn't board a 737 MAX until I was certain that a really concerted effort had been made to address all the problems which surround the design, with a robust and multiply-redundant system in place to mitigate the less than ideal design compromises which were made in pushing an old airframe past its inherent best usage limits.

Personally, I still think it's akin a model T-Ford with a V-8 engine shoved into it; just because you can, doesn't mean it's a great idea.

Edited January 25, 2021 by Chock

[W2DR 1,859]

I'm glad to see my (and my entire family's) decision to never board a MAX again was the right one.

[jon b 2,041]

3 hours ago, Chock said:

Personally, I still think it's akin a model T-Ford with a V-8 engine shoved into it; just because you can, doesn't mean it's a great idea.

I’ve got one of these and think you’re probably right ....
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-car-buying-guides/used-buying-guide-mg-zt-260
 

This whole Max thing is another example of what happens when accountants are let loose to run a specialist industry.

[Chock 17,769]

15 minutes ago, jon b said:

I’ve got one of these and think you’re probably right ....
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-car-buying-guides/used-buying-guide-mg-zt-260
 

Ironic that the car you linked to was black. Fun fact of the day: In spite of the famous Henry Ford quote, which was the initial intention for its cheap mass production, when it went into production the Model T actually wasn't black at all; they were originally red, later green, and the ones made in Manchester, were blue. 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Chock

[threexgreen 3,135]

While the most part of these emails confirms what was already brought to the public, there is interesting (not to say disturbing) information about the AOA sensor malfunctions near the end of the document (tl;dr: possibly hundreds of potentially defected AOA sensors were fitted to MAX, NG and P-8 airplanes, likely as a result of quality issues at the plant). There is also a list of 15 incidents on MAX airplanes that were all manufactured within a 13 month time frame (although some of the issues were engine issues which can be an issue on the engine manufacturer's part).

Edited January 25, 2021 by threegreen

[W2DR 1,859]

Another Model T factoid. In the U.S. the Model T was available in a variety of colors, but NOT black, during it's first five and last two years of production. But, from 1914 through 1925 it was available only in black. The reason? Black paint dried faster than the other colors and, hence, allowed for faster production.

Edited January 25, 2021 by W2DR
kant spel

[Jim Harnes 13]

Hmmm...that material is from about 2 years in the past.  So who is saying the aircraft is not fixed despite the new certification? 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Jim Harnes
clarity

[CYXR 257]

43 minutes ago, Jim Harnes said:

Hmmm...that material is from about 2 years in the past.  So who is saying the aircraft is not fixed despite the new certification? 

The author of the report is saying it. He published it online on January 20th 2021. 

[CapnOz 109]

The truth here is simple- Boeng needs to scrap the " max" brand, redesign the entire plane properly and call it something new- why not start a new generation of products like a B828 or something like that,

[overspeed3 410]

Perhaps the fix is like lipstick on a pig?

[HUSSAR 263]

Geez, I was ready and willing to jump on a 737-8 using almost any airline out of Vancouver.  After reading Mr. Peirson's report I now have second thoughts.  Definitely appears that the bean counters are mostly to blame.  Unfortunately their influence can be felt in manufacturing all over the world, gone are the days of promoting from within based on drive and work ethics and it shows in everyday items that we use.   

[scott967 62]

What I get as the "take-away" is that the focus (at least in public) has been on design issues and how the design was proved.  But here the question is the production environment and how post-production engineering support is being (or not being) provided to line maintainers.  The paper suggests a large number of production electrical problems and an inordinate number remain in delivered aircraft.  (Trying to test your way to a working aircraft is probably a fail.)  The unnoticed production problem in the previously failed AOA sensor suggests the problem extends past Boeing.

 

scott s.

.

 

 

[KenG 492]

Give it 5 years and the traveling public will forget. 

 

 

[n4gix 4,947]

I wonder if the old advice about "not buying a car built on a Friday" applies as well to new aircraft?