NTSB wants 757 wings checked

The National Transportation Safety Board released a recommendation to the FAA today that would require operators of Boeing 757 aircraft to make "a one- time visual inspection of the upper wing fixed trailing edge panel support beam clips for cracks, proper orientation, and spacers." This is of course following two high profile incidents recently in which 757s have shed wing panels in flight. The first occurred in March with a US Airways 757, and the second took place earlier this month when a Northwest Airlines 757 did the same. We brought you both of those stories here at PointNiner as they unfolded and I was starting to wonder when the NTSB would get on this one. I'm glad to see that today they finally have released something on it.

The NTSB also takes a hit on Boeing by asking the FAA to require "Boeing to issue more explicit instructions and figures that clearly illustrate the correct orientation of the clips and spacers that attach the Boeing 757 panel". Maybe they should just request airlines to stock more 100 mph tape.

The photo above was actually taken by a passenger on the US Airways 757 after it lost a section of its wing panel.

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