U.S. Navy Inspecting Hornet Fleet
All 636 F/A-18 Hornets flown by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are being inspected for possible cracks in a wing flap hinge, the Navy said Oct. 24.
The problem affects only A through D models of the Hornet strike fighter, and not F/A-18 E and F Super Hornets.
The Hornets are not being grounded, said Lt. Clay Doss, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon. But each aircraft will need its flap hinges inspected before being flown more than an additional 15 hours.
The issue came to light during a postflight maintenance inspection by Marine Strike Fighter Squadron 224 (VMFA-224), a Beaufort, S.C.-based squadron that flies the two-seat F/A-18D.
Cracks were discovered in the VMFA-224 aircraft's aluminum outer wing panel outboard aileron hinge, the Navy said in a statement. The inspection bulletin, number AYB-1249, was issued after 15 aircraft were found with the problem.
Aircraft that fail the inspections will be grounded or flight-restricted until the problem is fixed.
"We expect to have the majority of the legacy Hornet fleet inspected within a couple of weeks," Doss said. "We will prioritize inspection, and any necessary repairs of deployed aircraft to ensure safe operations and mission requirements are met. Logistics support will be focused to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 missions will continue with minimal disruption."
"Legacy" Hornets are earlier A-D models, distinct from E and F Super Hornets, which remain in production. Currently 112 legacy Hornets are deployed.
The outer wing panel outboard aileron hinge is a critical safety item part, according to the Navy.
"Failure of this hinge could result in loss of aileron, possible further damage to the aircraft, or possible loss of the aircraft," read the Navy statement. "We want to ensure that all hinges are inspected so that we can ensure all affected aircraft are safe to fly. Material repair and/or replacement options are being evaluated. The current field level repair involves removal and replacement of the outer wing panel, while replacement of failed hinges is a depot level repair."
The Hornets were all manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, now a part of Boeing.
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