The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness directive requiring operators of Boeing 737 Max aircraft to inspect their fuselages for possible cracks in a structural component. The directive is estimated to affect approximately 471 aircraft worldwide, with inspections scheduled to commence in September.
The inspections target a component known as the bear strap, which consists of sheets that support the fuselage around exit door areas. While no cracks have yet been discovered in 737 Max aircraft, the FAA determined that the model’s similar design and manufacturing processes to earlier Boeing 737 variants make it potentially susceptible to developing such defects. The agency stated that without intervention, cracks could compromise a principal structural element’s ability to sustain limit loads, thereby affecting the overall structural integrity of the aircraft.
This directive follows a similar inspection regime the FAA implemented for earlier Boeing 737 Next Generation models beginning in 2021, after cracks were found in bear strap components on those aircraft. A Boeing representative stated that the company had been collaborating with airlines operating 737 aircraft for several years following initial identification and notification of the issue in 2019. Boeing expressed support for both the new directive and the earlier inspections, noting that the company continues to work with airline customers on the matter.
According to Boeing, the inspection regimen will provide multiple opportunities to identify and address problems before any cracks reach critical dimensions. The company indicated it is simultaneously pursuing engineering modifications to address the underlying cause of the issue. The focus on Boeing’s engineering challenges reflects broader industry scrutiny that intensified following the 737 Max model’s troubled entry into service, which resulted in fatal accidents and subsequent worldwide grounding of the fleet.
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