Boeing's dual record logs eyed in 737 Max 9 door blowout

Boeing’s use of multiple record-keeping systems to log work during final construction of its 737 Max jets may have played a role in the manufacturing lapse that led to a panel exploding off an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this month. The twin logs — one which officially tracks actions taken as the plane is put together, and another less formal one — appear to have led to confusion at Boeing’s factory in Renton, Washington, said two people familiar with the incident who asked not to be named while US investigators are still investigating the incident. The NTSB is due to report preliminary findings on the accident soon. The agency hasn’t concluded what caused the near-disaster on the almost-new plane, but investigators have said they’re trying to determine whether four bolts securing the door were installed improperly or missing altogether. The NTSB hasn’t yet released information about the logs’ role in the accident. A finding that record-keeping played a role in the mishap would be even more problematic for Boeing after years of quality issues at the planemaker. Inspectors at Boeing were responsible for checking that the panel, which covered an unused exit door on the Max 9 jet used on Flight 1282, was properly secured before the plane left the factory. The door plug is installed by Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., which builds most of the 737’s frame at its main factory in Wichita, Kansas. Although it’s not a standard part of the assembly process, Boeing workers on occasion open or remove the panel when the plane is being assembled in its factory near Seattle, said three of the people. The panel that failed on the Alaska flight was opened by Boeing workers, one of them said.<br/>