Daily Insight: Friday 22 February 2019: Trust but Verify – SSJ100 Titanium Questions

News

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft has ordered the inspection of 48 Superjets for cracks in uncertified titanium that may have been used in about 50 SSJ100 aircraft.  Russian sources report the potential for micro cracks in landing gear, engine, and flap attachment points allegedly made with uncertified titanium.  An airworthiness directive from Rossaviatsiya date 29 December 2018 may support those claims.

Sukhoi indicated earlier this week that it had addressed the concerns about the questionable titanium in Superjet parts, and refers to a February 6th Rossaviatsiya AD confirming that SCAC had inspected all of the suspect parts and confirmed their quality, as well as tests performed on the chemical composition the titanium ingots by VSMPO-Avisma, confirming compliance.