Source: BoeingBoeing has confirmed a temporary halt in flight testing of its entire 777-9 fleet following the discovery of a failed engine-related structural component.
The Air Current reported on August 19 that Boeing had identified a “severed thrust link” on test aircraft WH003 after the aircraft completed a flight from Hawaii.
The component is unique to the 777-9 and connects the engine to the airplane’s structure. Each of the aircraft’s two GE Aerospace GE9X turbofans features two of the components, so redundancy is built into the system if one fails.
“During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed. Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready,” Boeing said.
The 777-9 program has faced numerous delays in recent years, primarily due to design changes and increased regulatory scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The recent engine component failure is a further setback for Boeing, which had hoped to have the aircraft in service next year. While the exact impact of this delay on the 777-9’s certification timeline remains unclear, it is likely to push back the aircraft’s entry into service. Both Boeing and the FAA are currently investigating the cause of the component failure and assessing the necessary corrective actions.
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- Boeing 777-9: Boeing
