Why is md-80 plane still flying and how come it took them till now to find out there was a problem?

Question

Why is md-80 plane still flying and how come it took them till now to find out there was a problem?

Answer 1

American Airlines had to move right away or face a fine similar to Southwest Airlines with its cracking fuselage.  The order to inspect actually came out last July for AA's 300 MD 80's .No planes as far as I have read were found defective in the service directive.  The tie wrap holding the wiring bundles together in the main landing gear wheel well could come apart thus separating the "bundles" and initiating a chafing situation with wires vs. metal.  The wires serve hydraulic electrical controls, switches or sensors. This could cause a spark and ignite a fuel tank.  (Much like the wiring for the fuel pump on the center fuel tank on the TWA 747 over NY got hot as the pump stays on after the tank is empty)   This tie wrap is used throughout the aircraft: under the floors in the side panel, in the ceiling panels, etc.  The excess of this zip tie is of course cut off but cannot pull through.  American ordered 200 (remainder acquired from TWA, Air Cal etc)of these workhorse jets at a time when McDonnell Douglas could sell every two engine aircraft it could produce (over 3.5 per week)  the Long Beach plant build these MD 8) series planes with quality and on time.

Answer 2

The MD-80 is a good aircraft. There was a POTENTIAL problem with the wiring harness that needed to be inspected per an FAA directive. Once the individual aircraft were inspected, they could fly again.

Regards,

Dan