Engine Shutdowns Prompt FAA to Order 737 Checks

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday ordered U.S. airlines flying the newest Boeing 737 aircraft to check immediately for a problem that shut down two engines over Europe last week.

The urgent airworthiness directive to inspect engine gearboxes for a faulty shaft affects 23 U.S.-registered Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 models.

FAA said in a statement its action followed two in-flight engine shutdowns last Friday involving a Transaero Airlines plane in Russia and a Braathens Airlines flight in Norway.

There were no injuries in either incident. The twin-engine 737 is designed to be able to fly on one engine.

Although engine-maker CFM International had previously advised airlines of the gear box problem in service bulletins, FAA decided to order swift action after the two European incidents.

Earlier this year FAA ordered immediate inspections of hundreds of older 737s for vibration-induced wear on wires running through fuel tanks. The problems are not related.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based CFM, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Snecma of France, said the problem had been traced to an outside supplier.

Southwest Airlines Co., which has 11 Boeing 737-700s, said the work could be carried out overnight. “There will be zero impact on our schedules,” said Southwest spokeswoman Ginger Hardage.