Equipment/Furnishings: Buffet/Galleys

FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: NM-12-11 SUBJ: Equipment/Furnishings: Buffet/Galleys Date: January 10, 2012 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

CORRECTED: A typo in the Introduction paragraph has been corrected from "64B" to "G4B".

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin advises registered owners and operators of The Boeing Company Model 737 airplanes equipped with B/E Aerospace G4B galleys of an airworthiness concern regarding possible latch failure on galley cabinets with ¼ turn latches installed with adhesive only fasteners.

Background

During an accident investigation involving an airplane that departed the runway during takeoff, one of the aft galley drawers previously latched in its compartment for takeoff was found on the galley floor. Further examination revealed that the compartment latch plate had been affixed to the compartment by an adhesive fastener, with no mechanical connectors. Unrestrained items in this location are particularly hazardous because an aft facing flight attendant jumpseat is located directly forward of the galley. Adhesive only fasteners, such as the fastener used in this compartment, are susceptible to degradation over time because of exposure to temperature changes, sunlight, chemicals, and other factors. Consequently, the reliability of an adhesive fastener becomes uncertain as the airplane ages.

At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant Airworthiness Directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 39.

Recommendations

The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of the airplanes listed above comply with the actions outlined in B/E Aerospace Service Bulletin 25-30-0426, Revision B, dated October 3, 2011.

For Further Information Contact

Ana Martinez Hueto, Cabin Safety and Environmental Systems Branch, ANM-150S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057-3356; phone: (425) 917-6592; fax: (425) 917-6590; e-mail: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

B/E Aerospace (UK) Ltd, Nissan House, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, England LU7 4TB; phone: +44 1525 858300 fax: +44 1525 853316. 1