The Boeing Co. is continuing its investigation into an electrical fire on its new 787, the company said Thursday.
Meanwhile, its 787 test planes will remain grounded, following the fire which forced Boeing’s second 787 test plane to make an emergency landing Tuesday in Texas.
Boeing said Thursday that the focus of the investigation is a panel in the electronics bay. The panel sustained “significant” damage.
“Initial inspections, however, do not show extensive damage to the surrounding structure or other systems. We have not completed our inspections of that area of the airplane,” Boeing said.
Boeing expects the inspection to take several days and said it is too early to determine if there is significant damage to any structure or adjacent systems.
The panel is one of several power panels in the rear electronics bay. It receives power from the left engine and distributes it to an array of systems. In the event of a failure to the panel, back-up power sources, including power from the Ram Air Turbine, the auxiliary power unit or the battery, are designed to engage to ensure safe operation of the airplane, Boeing said.
“We continue to evaluate data to understand this incident. At the same time, we are working through a repair plan. In addition, we are determining the appropriate steps required to return the rest of the flight test fleet to flying status,” Boeing said.
It is not known whether this latest problem with Boeing’s 787, which is more than two years behind schedule, will lead to another delivery delay.
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