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Guess what else is catching on fire?
FAA grounds Boeing 787s to address risk of battery fires
WASHINGTON – The federal government grounded Boeing’s newest and most technologically advanced jetliner Wednesday, declaring that U.S. airlines cannot fly the 787 again until the risk of battery fires is addressed.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s emergency order affects only United Airlines, the lone U.S. carrier to operate 787s. United said it would put passengers on other aircraft and work closely with the FAA and Boeing to review its fleet of six Dreamliners.
The FAA action came on the same day that Japan’s two biggest airlines — which fly almost half of the world’s 50 787s — voluntarily grounded them pending full safety checks.
Boeing said it was working around the clock with investigators.
“We are confident the 787 is safe, and we stand behind its overall integrity,” Jim McNerney, company chairman, president and CEO said late Wednesday in a statement.
The FAA decision was another setback for a plane that was supposed to establish a new standard for jet travel but has instead been beset by one mishap after another.
The latest trouble arose when pilots for Japan’s All Nippon Airways smelled something burning and received a cockpit warning of battery problems on a flight from Yamaguchi Ube airport in western Japan to Tokyo. They made an emergency landing Wednesday at Takamatsu airport in western Japan, and passengers evacuated using inflatable slides.
An inspection found that a flammable liquid had leaked from the main lithium-ion battery below and slightly behind the cockpit. Investigators found burn marks around the damage. Japan’s Kyodo News agency quoted a transport ministry investigator as saying that the liquid leaked through the electrical room floor to the outside of the aircraft. The transport ministry said the leak could have led to an accident.
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old_oaks
January 17th, 2013
I dunno… Lipo batteries are pretty violent when they explode, the fumes are horrible. We’ve been using them in R/C planes for some time and when folks crash them, fires happen. People charge them in ammo cans or special bags and many dudes have caught their cars on fire using the power socket to run chargers.
In my experience, they get too hot when they are drained, too sensitive to correct charging and discharging. They have no place being used in commercial aviation or ground transportation.
iphone
January 17th, 2013
When I charge my iPhone, it gets realhot. My guess is the charging amperage is too high. Boiling the liquid in the battery. Resulting in fire.
hanoverfist
January 17th, 2013
old_oaks is right.
I use them in my R/C boat and motorcycle.
And I charge them at just below max(and outside) just in case.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
January 17th, 2013
Is that the problem with the Chevy Volt, perhaps?
Bad Brad
January 17th, 2013
I think Rev. 2 will be 4 props and a shit load of pedals and some bicycle chain.
grayscape
January 17th, 2013
Lithium Iron Phosphate – not flammable – has been available since 2007….and yet for some reason LiPo’s are still being used.
F.D.R. in Hell
January 17th, 2013
Lucifer’s going for his Pilot’s License.
I guess he’s bored sitting in a flaming Chevy Volt.
thirdtwin
January 17th, 2013
OK, I thought we figured out things like this after the Hindenburg.
Hydrogen: ‘splodey
Helium: not ‘splodey
Do not use ‘splodey stuff around electricity if there are options.
Especially near the center wing fuel tank, according to the NTSB.
grayscape
January 17th, 2013
The Volt uses Lithium Magnesium Oxide which can be explosively flammable under some conditions. Might as well keep a case of dynamite in the trunk.
Claudia
January 17th, 2013
Ok, what about this thought: the unions are sabotaging the 787s because Boeing dared to move the factory to South Carolina (right to work state).
J Frank Parnell
January 17th, 2013
Wouldn’t put it past the Goonions, Claudia.
CrustyB
January 17th, 2013
http://bitstrips.com/r/D5021
Moxie Man
January 17th, 2013
Were there any NBC “Journalists” on that Nippon Boeing 787?
Vladtheimp
January 17th, 2013
Were these built in union Washington state or non-union South Carolina?
Stranded in Sonoma
January 17th, 2013
My son had an MP3 player with a lithium-ion battery. One day, the case started to separate. When we took the case off, the battery looked like it had exploded but the surrounding case had contained it. Did the environmental thing; I put it in the trash.
Stranded in Sonoma
January 17th, 2013
@Vladtheimp — The SC plant is not operating, at least that I know of. So all aircraft are built in Seattle. When production moves to SC, those union idiots will scream about uncaring management and loss of jobs but Boeing will be able to point to jobs in SC. In other words, jobs won’t be “lost” they will just migrate.
By the way, remember this Boeing product?
Rio
January 17th, 2013
The B-787 was behind delivery schedule before the first one was on the assembly line…
And the hurrier they went the behinder they got.
In attempt to salvage what’s left of Boeing & the 787′s reputation and future sales.. no expense will be spared finding an FAA approved fix for the overheating battery. Which should come within a week, even if it’s a temporary fix…
i.e. A custom shroud with an auxiliary cooling fan. We’ll see.
Tim
January 17th, 2013
It’s that damned George W. Bush’s fault!
Haven’t figured out how … but that don’t matter!
Boobie the Rocket Dog
January 17th, 2013
@ Stranded – Do indeed. Dad flew one over Germany.
Collings’ B-17 will be here in two weeks.
I got into it with somebody here a couple of years ago who knew Collings and did not like him at all. I don’t care; I very much appreciate their efforts without which I’d never have seen, let alone flown in, a B-17.
Serious Putty
January 17th, 2013
OK This is all I’ve got:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nO3Wfenv4Mo
.