Cracks Found In Jet Landing Gear

Operators of Boeing 767 jetliners have been told by the Federal Aviation Administration to inspect the planes’ main landing gear for possible stress cracks.

An emergency order issued Monday by the FAA takes effect immediately and covers all of the estimated 230 widebody 767s in service.

The FAA said it had received reports of four incidents, three of them this year, in which stress cracks were found on the right rear section of the main landing gear.

No injuries have been linked to the cracks. Three of the cracks were discovered while the twin-engine aircraft were parked at airport gates. The fourth happened Sept. 16 while a Delta Air Lines 767-300 was taxiing slowly at Hamburg International Airport in Germany.

In that incident, a piece of the landing gear broke away and the jet came to rest on its right engine, which was severely damaged.

Boeing Co. spokesman Doug Webb said the company is working with airlines to resolve the problems and is planning a landing gear repair and retrofit program.