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US widens Dreamliner safety probe after battery finding Japan and the US probe Dreamliner battery maker
(about 1 hour later)
US safety officials have widened their probe into a Japan Airlines-operated Boeing 787 Dreamliner, after deciding that overcharging was not the cause of a battery fire. US and Japanese authorities have begun a joint investigation into GS Yuasa, the Japanese battery maker for Boeing's troubled 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The focus is now on the battery charger and the plane's auxiliary power unit. It comes after an All Nippon Airways 787 had to make an emergency landing due to a battery malfunction.
Shares of the battery maker GS Yuasa were higher on the news. However, another US regulator said on Sunday the battery did not overcharge in a separate incident involving a Japan Airlines-operated 787.
Last week, regulators grounded all of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners in operation after an All Nippon Airways flight had to make an emergency landing. Regulators have grounded all Dreamliners currently in operation.
The aeroplane landed after a warning light came on in the cockpit, saying there was a problem with one of the 787's batteries. "Engineers from the [US Federal Aviation Administration], Boeing and our aviation bureau started a probe this morning that is mainly focusing on GS Yuasa's production line," said Yasuo Ishii, a Japanese transport ministry safety official.
Japanese investigators probing the cause of the lithium-ion battery malfunction on the All Nippon Airways flight indicated that an overcharged battery may have been the cause. "They are checking on whether there have been any issues in the production process. We still don't know what caused the battery problem, and so we are looking into all possibilities."
However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said overcharging was not the case in the Japan Airlines incident on 7 January at Logan International Airport in Boston. The Japanese battery maker, GS Yuasa, has seen its shares fall 11% since 7 January when an electrical fire broke out on a Japan Airlines 787 at Logan International Airport in Boston.
"Examination of the flight recorder data from the JAL B-787 airplane indicates that the APU (auxiliary power unit) battery did not exceed its designed voltage of 32 volts," the NTSB said in a href="http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2013/130120.html" >statement on Sunday. Investigating that incident, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the battery did not overcharge.
"Examination of the flight recorder data from the JAL B-787 airplane indicates that the [auxiliary power unit] battery did not exceed its designed voltage of 32 volts," the NTSB said in a statement on Sunday.
It said it would now widen its probe to look at the battery charger and the auxiliary power unit.
Smoke damageSmoke damage
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said both batteries had leaked electrolyte fluid and there had been smoke damage to parts of the aircraft. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said both batteries had leaked electrolyte fluid, and there had been smoke damage to parts of the aircraft.
The NTSB said a group of experts would meet in Arizona this week where the battery charger is manufactured by Securaplane Technologies to test and examine the part. The NTSB said a group of experts would meet in Arizona this week, where the battery charger is manufactured by Securaplane Technologies, to test and examine the part.
The battery charger maker, a unit of Britain's Meggitt, said it would fully support the US investigation. United Technologies, which builds the aircraft's auxiliary power unit, said it would also cooperate.The battery charger maker, a unit of Britain's Meggitt, said it would fully support the US investigation. United Technologies, which builds the aircraft's auxiliary power unit, said it would also cooperate.
On Friday, Boeing said it would put deliveries of the 787 on hold until the FAA approved its plan to ensure the safety of the batteries.On Friday, Boeing said it would put deliveries of the 787 on hold until the FAA approved its plan to ensure the safety of the batteries.
It said it would, however, continue building the light-weight fuel-efficient plane.It said it would, however, continue building the light-weight fuel-efficient plane.
Japan is the biggest buyer of the aircraft with ANA and JAL operating 24 of the 50 Dreamliners currently in operation. Japan is the biggest buyer of the aircraft, with ANA and JAL operating 24 of the 50 Dreamliners currently in operation.
Boeing has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners.Boeing has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners.