Analysis of Boeing 737 aircraft towing accidents. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shu-wen; Liu, Hui; Li, Fu-hai
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 80(2017)
• Page Start: 234
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Down drag -- Shear pins -- Joint gaps -- Failure analysis; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.06.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the current study is to analyze the failure reasons of towing accidents happened in 2004 and 2005. We found joint gaps were between aircraft-towbar-tractor which might been the possible cause of failure. Fracture analysis techniques were performed to the fracture of down drag, shear pins and etc. The dynamic simulation was performed to analyze the impact of joint gaps on the load of down drag. The result confirmed that down drag and shear pins were overload fracture caused by great impulse towing load caused by joint gaps between aircraft-towbar-tractor under uncommon situations, and the structure of towbar should to be improved as the utilizes of shear pins to guarantee the security of towing system was not enough. Highlights: The failures of Boeing 737 aircraft towing system were investigated. The reason of fractures occurring in down drag, lock link, and shear pins of towbar has been detected and explained. The dynamic simulation showed the impact of joint gaps between aircraft, towbar, and tractor on the towing load. The shear pins as the safety precaution of towbar was insufficient.