Originally Posted by
jrl767
< speculation follows >
the cotter pin for the aft lower (hinge bracket) bolt could indeed have been improperly installed, allowing the bolt to gradually back out; this would have resulted in less compression of the seal between the lower edge of the door and the fuselage, and hence the intermitttent pressurization issues
when the pin eventually failed, the now-unrestrained bolt would have been able to slide completely out of the bracket (likely on takeoff from PDX)
the lower seal and the stops and the three remaining bolts would have held the door plug in place until the pressure differential exceeded their capacity
troubleshooting the pressurization issues probably didn’t involve inspection of the door plug installation beyond a cursory look from the outside to see if the seal was pinched between the door and surrounding structure
< end of speculation >
not a good look for either Boeing or Alaska
How is this not a good look for AS? If they trouble shot the issue according to the MX procedure manual, which is written using manufacturer recommendations, and AS ran the correct procedures, found nothing and couldn’t replicate the issue on the ground, which is what it sounds like, what’s your suggestion for a next step? Mix in the fact that allegedly each time the crew got a pressurization error alert, switching from Primary to ALT corrected the issue. Now if AS skipped any of the above when investigating the write up, I’m with you. But nothing I’ve read points to that yet. I was on the Operations side of the building, so admittedly my knowledge is pedestrian at best. Any wrench turners that can expand on this would be helpful and clear up any thing I might’ve mis-stated.