The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is recommending improved inspection specifications to identify fatigue cracking in parts of Boeing 737 flap mechanisms.
The ATSB’s recommendation followed its investigation of an April 27, 2022, incident in which a Virgin Australia 737-800 rolled right immediately after takeoff from Queensland’s Gold Coast Airport and needed rudder trim to keep the wings level. Trim was no longer necessary after the flaps were retracted during cruise flight to Sydney, but the problem recurred when the flight crew extended the flaps before landing, the ATSB said in late December.
“A walk-around inspection after the flight found he outboard aft flap on the left wing had not completely retracted, and a subsequent inspection found several components in the aft flap actuation system had failed,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
