Finding of new crack may delay DC10’s return

Press, 11 July 1979, Page 8

Finding of new crack may delay DC10’s return

NZPA-Reuter Washington

A fresh crack has been found in the wing engine mounting of a United Airlines DC 10 airliner just as the United States Federal Aviation Administration was debating whether to lift its monthlong order grounding the three-engined aircraft.

The crack was discovered on Saturday in a “non-critical” part of the pylon, which holds the engine slung under the jet’s wing. The F.A.A. grounded 'he 138 United States-regis-tered DC 10s, as well as barring those belonging to foreign airlines from flying into the United States, after the crash of an American Airlines DCIO in Chicago on Mav 25 killing 273 people. Subsequent checks revealed cracks on some planes.

The plane in whose engine a crack was found last Saturday was flown from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco without passengers on Sunday. An F.A.A. spokesman said yesterday: “The grounding order might be removed, just possibly today (Tuesday).” But another spokesman said: “We have never put a definite deadline on this thing. We have said that we will make a decision (on lifting the grounding order) some time this week, and we hope to make it some time this week.”

Both statements were made after the United Airlines engine-mount crack was discovered.

Investigators have concluded that one basic reason why the pylon in the Chicago crash failed was that it had been badly damaged during maintenance.

The crack on the United Airlines plane was discovered as the aircraft was undergoing a final pylon inspection called for by th eF.A.A. last Friday.