FAA warns of electrical surges near fuel tanks in some Boeing 747s
     WASHINGTON - November 26, 1997 10:06 p.m. - The Federal Aviation
 Administration directed airlines Wednesday to take more steps to
 avoid possible electrical surges in wiring near the center fuel
 tanks of some Boeing 747 aircraft.
     It is widely speculated, although not yet certain, that an elec-
 trical spike may have ignited an explosion in the center fuel tank
 of TWA Flight 800 on July 17, 1996. The plane burst into flames
 shortly after taking off from New York City, killing all 230 people
 aboard.
     While investigators have not determined the accident's cause,
 they have ruled out a bomb or missile and have focused on the
 plane's electrical system near the center fuel tank.
     In its latest action, the FAA told airlines that over the next
 12 months it wants them to install new equipment to shield certain
 wiring in the fuel monitoring system in some Boeing 747s. It also
 called on airlines to immediately inspect wiring in some fuel pumps
 in older Boeing 747s.
     The FAA said the additional preventive measures were based on
 recent tests by the National Transportation Safety Board as part of
 the TWA Flight 800 crash probe.
     "Although ... we know of no evidence that these parts played
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 any role in the accident, the FAA is ordering these changes to
 ensure that we take every practical step to ensure the continued
 safety of the Boeing 747," FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey said
 in a statement.
     The FAA safety directives involve wiring in the Fuel Quantity
 Indication System aboard 167 Boeing 747 aircraft with U.S. registry.
 They also call for inspecting wiring in the scavenger fuel pump,
 which removes leftover fuel from the fuel tank, in 196 Boeing 747s.
     The FAA said the recent NTSB tests found higher than expected
 voltage spikes were possible because of electromagnetic interference
 in the fuel indication system wiring near the center fuel tank.
     Under certain conditions, the agency said, electrical probes
 also may become contaminated. "If the contamination is present when
 the higher induced voltage is also present, a spark could be created
 in the fuel tank," the FAA said.
     Russ Young, a Boeing spokesman in Seattle, said his company's
 tests using voltages and energy levels that would be found on the
 airplane found no problem. He said he believed the FAA proposal was
 based on tests of voltages higher than would be found on planes.
    The second directive is to detect any deterioration of insulation
 on electrical connectors in the scavenger pump, the FAA said. Sili-
 cone insulation found during some inspections is prone to deterior-
 ation from fuel used to cool and lubricate the pump motors.
    The directive requires that any silicone insulation found be
 replaced within 90 days.
    The agency has taken a series of actions involving the fuel
 system of Boeing 747s since the TWA 800 accident.
    In August 1996, it required inspections of all Boeing 747 and
 Boeing 757 fuel pumps. Last January it required reinspection and
 repair of wiring leading to fuel tank booster pumps on Boeing 747s
 made before 1980. These safety requirements have been met, the
 agency said.
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     Not much of an answer after time and the multi millions of
 dollars spent on this investigation.  Garvey has nore experience
 with desks than aircraft. Jim
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