Qantas to inspect 33 Boeing 737s after crack found in ‘pickle fork’ component

Safety inspections fast tracked after problems founds in a key component.

Qantas will fast track the inspection of 33 of its hardworking Boeing 737s after a crack was discovered in a component known as the “pickle fork” that joins the wing to the aircraft’s fuselage.

The issue was exposed this month during the overhaul of B737 Next Generation aircraft in China, prompting an urgent alert from US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, acting on advice from Boeing.

The alert ordered airlines with 737s that had completed more than 30,000 flights to undergo immediate inspection, and recommended aircraft with 22,600 flights be inspected within the next 1000 flights.

Read more: Qantas cuts group executive | Frequent Flyers targets drivers

None of Qantas’ 737 NGs had reached the 30,000-flight threshold, but one aircraft with just under 27,000 flights was found to have a pickle fork crack.

That aircraft has been removed from service for repairs.

A Qantas spokesman said another 33 aircraft would be inspected by the end of the week but there would be no impact to flights.

“Qantas would never operate an aircraft unless it was completely safe to do so,” the spokesman said.

“Detailed analysis by Boeing shows that even where this crack is present, it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft – as indicated by the time frame given by regulators to perform the checks.”

Further updates would be provided once the checks were complete, he said.

Qantas operates 75 B737s with an average age of 11.5 years, on mostly domestic routes making the aircraft the workhorse of the airline’s fleet.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said all 19 of their 737 NGs had been inspected with no issues found.

The issue is the latest blow to Boeing in a horrible year for the aircraft manufacturer which was forced to ground its 737 Max 8 and 9 models in March, after two fatal crashes.

Boeing is hopeful the aircraft will return to service later this year but that will depend on the FAA and other regulators, including Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The 737 Max issue is in no way related to the pickle fork problem on the 737 NGs,