Damaged/Repaired Delta 757
Discussion
I unwittingly traveled from Atlanta to Orlando on a Delta 757 yesterday that had been subject to a particularly hard landing in the Azores back in August.
I'm not sure I'd have been willing to risk it had I known what had happened to this aircraft. I can't even imagine what it took to straighten it all out, from an engineering perspective. Apparently it was back in service after 8 weeks of repair work.
Perhaps I'm being a little melodramatic, but the pics I found with minimal research made me a bit uneasy.
The plane in question is N543US and is more than 20 years old.
I'm not sure I'd have been willing to risk it had I known what had happened to this aircraft. I can't even imagine what it took to straighten it all out, from an engineering perspective. Apparently it was back in service after 8 weeks of repair work.
Perhaps I'm being a little melodramatic, but the pics I found with minimal research made me a bit uneasy.
The plane in question is N543US and is more than 20 years old.
Remember it was built by hand in the first place. As per any damage it will have been assessed then a design for the repair would have been issued. You do the repair in accordance with the design and you’re good to go. Obviously there would be a lot of inspections during the repair and it would be certified by a licensed engineer after. If there was any doubt it wouldn’t be flying. The only stopping factor would be cost but I’m sure it would be a lot cheaper than a new aircraft.
jamiem555 said:
Remember it was built by hand in the first place. As per any damage it will have been assessed then a design for the repair would have been issued. You do the repair in accordance with the design and you’re good to go. Obviously there would be a lot of inspections during the repair and it would be certified by a licensed engineer after. If there was any doubt it wouldn’t be flying. The only stopping factor would be cost but I’m sure it would be a lot cheaper than a new aircraft.
Exactly! The repair process would be incredibly thorough. If anything it would be less likely to have some kind of structural issue than an old one that hasn't had the skin off to inspect.If only passengers could see the state of the structure under the very floor their seats are mounted to once a few years have been clocked up! I’d bet many would refuse to get on board.
Of course, everyone would be more than happy to pay for the huge increase in ticket prices if aircraft were simply scrapped instead of repaired.
Of course, everyone would be more than happy to pay for the huge increase in ticket prices if aircraft were simply scrapped instead of repaired.
Krikkit said:
If anything it would be less likely to have some kind of structural issue than an old one that hasn't had the skin off to inspect.
This. It will have had a fine toothcomb over it before it was allowed back on revenue flights. I would just enjoy the fact I was on a beautiful 752; probably less than a decade of these left. Google Japan Airlines Flight 123. Biggest loss of life in a single aircraft accident, when a sub-standard repair to the rear pressure bulkhead of the B747SR following a tailstrike, blew the fin and rudder off. 520 killed, four survivors.
It is quite possible that the age of the B757 pictured made the repair economic, as there would be 757s in 'boneyards' from which the sizable replacement parts require could be scavenged.
It is quite possible that the age of the B757 pictured made the repair economic, as there would be 757s in 'boneyards' from which the sizable replacement parts require could be scavenged.
GliderRider said:
Google Japan Airlines Flight 123. Biggest loss of life in a single aircraft accident, when a sub-standard repair to the rear pressure bulkhead of the B747SR following a tailstrike, blew the fin and rudder off. 520 killed, four survivors.
It is quite possible that the age of the B757 pictured made the repair economic, as there would be 757s in 'boneyards' from which the sizable replacement parts require could be scavenged.
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.It is quite possible that the age of the B757 pictured made the repair economic, as there would be 757s in 'boneyards' from which the sizable replacement parts require could be scavenged.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
eccles said:
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Imagine trying to get the holes to line up on a used skin!Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
G600 said:
eccles said:
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Imagine trying to get the holes to line up on a used skin!Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
eccles said:
G600 said:
eccles said:
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Imagine trying to get the holes to line up on a used skin!Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
xiodene said:
eccles said:
G600 said:
eccles said:
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Imagine trying to get the holes to line up on a used skin!Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
eccles said:
xiodene said:
eccles said:
G600 said:
eccles said:
That repair in the OP will be all structural, generally you don't rob structural components (undercarriage trunnions, skins longerons etc) but fit new ones.
Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Imagine trying to get the holes to line up on a used skin!Bread and butter work for those of us that do this sort of thing for a living.
Back when the USAF was still flying the B-36 one had a hard landimg out on a pacific island and needed a bit of structural work.
The USN kindly made the part required but used stainless steel instead of the correct grade aluminium so once at altitude the difference in thermal expansion/contraction came into play resulting in a lot of trim on the rudder needed for the remainder of the flight.
A couple of crews chiefs had advised against using stainless but due to them merely being enlisted men they were ignored. Instead they took several gallons of water and several boxes of Kleenex to plug the gaps in the skin as they appeared.
A Convair crew demanded a very large risk bonus to fly the banana shaped B-36 back to Fort Worth for straightening out
Looks like it was repaired enough to ferry back to Atlanta, then went to Peru for proper repair..
Discussed in the news segment of the.podcast below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/airline-pilo...
Discussed in the news segment of the.podcast below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/airline-pilo...
My parents flew back from Orlando on the BA 777 that got cooked in Las Vegas. They enjoyed the photo I sent them before departure. 
In all seriousness, I wouldn’t have an issue with either of these aircraft; the folk who fix them know what they’re doing and it’s extremely important they get it right.
As an aside, I recently flew on a Delta 757 and it was pretty nice. Don’t think that particular one had been recently straightened out though.
In all seriousness, I wouldn’t have an issue with either of these aircraft; the folk who fix them know what they’re doing and it’s extremely important they get it right.As an aside, I recently flew on a Delta 757 and it was pretty nice. Don’t think that particular one had been recently straightened out though.
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