Explainer – The latest investigation into the Boeing 787

(Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday it has opened an investigation into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to determine whether some employees committed “misconduct” by claiming certain tests that were not completed were completed .

WHAT HAPPENS?

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened another investigation into Boeing, which was already facing investigations related to a Jan. 5 mishap on a 737 MAX. The FAA wants to know whether Boeing has conducted inspections at its South Carolina factory to ensure adequate bonding and electrical grounding at the points where the wings connect to the fuselage on certain 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

How did that happen?

Boeing told the FAA that an employee at its South Carolina plant had found irregularities in a 787 test – and said in an email from a company vice president that the planemaker “learned that several people had violated company policies, by not carrying out a required test, but…” documenting the work as completed.”

Is this the first time Boeing has encountered a paperwork-related issue?

No. Investigators looking into the Jan. 5 737 MAX explosion also found no specific records related to the production of the aircraft in question. In this incident, a door stopper was removed to correct manufacturing issues, but when the panel was reinstalled, four screws needed to hold the door in place were missing. Boeing has not yet provided documentation indicating whether or not this step took place and has stated that it believes the required documents detailing the removal of the screws were never created. Missing or falsified documentation is seen by experts as a serious problem in the aerospace industry, where regulators require careful production records.

Will this latest investigation impact aircraft production or existing aircraft?

It is possible. The FAA said Monday that Boeing “must re-examine all 787 aircraft still in the production system and also develop a remediation plan for the in-service fleet.” Boeing currently produces fewer than five 787 aircraft per month. The company said in April that it was already struggling with a slower production rate due to parts shortages.

WILL ANYONE BE HELD RESPONSIBLE?

Boeing has said it is taking “swift and serious corrective action involving multiple employees,” but it is not clear how the plane maker will fully respond to this issue. The company’s safety culture has come under scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators after the Jan. 5 bankruptcy that damaged the aerospace giant’s reputation.

In April, Sam Salehpour, a current engineer at the company, said Boeing’s manufacturing practices do not adequately address safety concerns.

The story goes on

Boeing could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Washington; Writing by David Gaffen; Editing by Matthew Lewis)