FAA may fine Boeing millions for deadly fuel tank issue

Boeing Company, which just inked a deal to sell United $14 billion in aircraft, may have to subtract $13.57 million for a proposed FAA fine in connection with the 1996 explosion of TWA 800, a Boeing 747.

TWA 800 exploded and crashed into the Atlantic, killing all 230 people on board.  It is the third deadliest aviation incident to happen in U.S. territory.

It was determined that despite theories of terrorist involvement, the most likely reason for the crash was the explosion of flammable fuel/air vapors in the plane’s nearly empty center-wing fuel tank caused by a short circuit.

Since the accident, the FAA has issued 283 directives to prevent similar ignition of vapors in and around fuel tanks in commercial aircraft.

Boeing has missed the December 2010 deadline it had agreed on to provide instructions for FAA  approval for airline mechanics on how to install systems intended to replace airplane fuel tank oxygen with non-flammable nitrogen gas, reducing the risk of explosions like the one on TWA 800. 

Boeing missed the deadline for required instructions for 747s by 301 days, and was 406 days late for 757s, according to the FAA release, delivering both with delays that created a costly–and potentially deadly–domino effect with airlines asking the FAA for deadline extensions to make needed fixes.

Miles Kotay, a Boeing spokesman, said Friday in a statement that the company is "committed" to coming up with solutions to the problem.

"Boeing has since provided the service instructions to the FAA concerning the out-of-production aircraft that are the subject of the proposed penalty," the statement said. "In compliance with the rule changes, Boeing has already included a Flammability Reduction System in the basic design on the 747-8 and 787. The system is being installed on all Boeing airplanes currently in production (737, 747-8, 767, 777 and 787) and is available for retrofit on all other out-of-production models. The system is currently in service on 1,805 Boeing airplanes around the world."

"We take this matter very seriously," said acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We have issued hundreds of directives to eliminate fuel ignition sources over the past 16 years, and this step will add another layer of safety."

Airbus has met the deadline and Boeing now has 30 days to respond to the FAA on the lengthy delays.