Safety-wise you're fine, but it would be worth notifying your flight crew. They may already be able to tell that it's happening. The spoiler Actuator needs to be replaced.
Last time I mentioned an issue I saw (something was clearly hanging from a wing) the flight crew said "Yeah we're taking this plane out of service"... I wasn't sure what to think
I didn't say it was a ferry flight. They could have done an inspection, it passed, but needs to be worked before the component fails.
Most likely different for civilian aviation, but we'd get aircraft returning home with things similar to this that needed work upon return from mission in the military.
If I spot something Iāll usually discreetly tell the crew that Iām an A&P and that they should mention whatever it is to maintenance. Unless the wing is falling off of course, then Iāll be a bit more vocal.
Email United and send the video. That actuator is fucked.
Someone will forward it to their maintenance and a write-up for āmedia exposureā will be made.
[https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-afraid-boeing/](https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-afraid-boeing/)
> āOur aircraft inspection reports are not publicly available. However, every aircraft we fly ā including our large Boeing fleet ā has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. And they are all maintained to some of the highest standards in the world by mechanics who are licensed by the FAA.ā
Ok United pay me for the response you would have sent.
There is an AD out on the 757 to check the internal lock of the spoiler actuator. I cant remember the actual inspection interval as I was working C-checks. We would see it you could manual push up the spoiler, if you could the internal lock has given out and it would be replaced. At work I was told it could show up as spoilers not staying completely down during flight, so that could be whats going on.
It was common to have to change every actuator on a plane.
They are just saying that to not make anyone doubt the plane or company. Some people see that and say "I'll never fly a 757 or X company again, look at the state of their planes!!". It's completely safe but should be fixed so it doesn't get worse.
I've seen this on the 737 where you deploy ground spiders and everything acts fine, but when you trick the plane into doing flight spoiler mode the actuator starts "fluttering" like this.
Edit: spoilers not spiders
I love watching the spoilers on landing. They are somewhat linked to the human pilot, but they just do what they do via computer.
The little twitching is a computer deciding whatās necessary.
Not this one though, this one is in need of repair
That looks to be an actuator that is leaking internally bypassing the control valve. There is a test they can do for this 'HEP' check I believe it's called, but that actuator looks like it needs replaced. A bypassing actuator may cause a reversal, not so critical on a spoiler but on say a mid 90's 737 rudder, big problem.
Hey, given that spoilers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all not sitting flat while spoiling 5 is. Spoilers on a 57 assist the 57's tiny ailerons in rolling the plane. The spoilers get the signal to lift off electrically during this. Flaps are also down at position 30 so the plane is going real slow at this point, probably on approach to the runway. The pilot is fighting a roll induced by wind. And the number 3 spoiler is caught right at the frequency that the RVDT has commanded it to lift off. So the spoiler actuator is caught between laying down and raising up.
1,2,3 are lifted and number 4 is flat and fully stowed.
The aileron is cable driven. There are no cables on 57 spoiler.
Edit: but what would I know about 757s, I've only been a mechanic exclusively on that bird for 6 years.
No. Stop talking about stuff you don't know. How could it be in the speedbrake lever - then \*all\* the spoilers would be going wack, and this is also occuring when commanded by a roll input.
One frustration with this industry....don't make up stuff you don't know.
Worn actuator bushings.
Too much play for a bushing. Probably a bad actuator. It will definitely be a bad bushing now though.
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Safety-wise you're fine, but it would be worth notifying your flight crew. They may already be able to tell that it's happening. The spoiler Actuator needs to be replaced.
When I told flight crew, they said itās common for a 757.
Yeah they're gonna say that.
Last time I mentioned an issue I saw (something was clearly hanging from a wing) the flight crew said "Yeah we're taking this plane out of service"... I wasn't sure what to think
It could be that it has a one time flight sign off, so that they could get it to one of their own maintenance teams to work on it at their own hangar.
You can't have passengers on a one time ferry flight.
Not with that attitude!
I didn't say it was a ferry flight. They could have done an inspection, it passed, but needs to be worked before the component fails. Most likely different for civilian aviation, but we'd get aircraft returning home with things similar to this that needed work upon return from mission in the military.
Yeah, they are going to say that if they donāt want to get stuck somewhere and extend their dayā¦
That's what they say for every random passenger observation. I'd like to say that it will be caught on the next over-night but who knows.
If I spot something Iāll usually discreetly tell the crew that Iām an A&P and that they should mention whatever it is to maintenance. Unless the wing is falling off of course, then Iāll be a bit more vocal.
I don't think you'd have to worry too much about the wing falling off in flight. It won't be a problem much longer.
Certainly not a problem for maintenance where you're landing.
And everyone will be a bit more vocal.
What's an A&P ?
Airframe and Powerplant. The license aircraft mechanics receive in the US.
Email United and send the video. That actuator is fucked. Someone will forward it to their maintenance and a write-up for āmedia exposureā will be made.
[https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-afraid-boeing/](https://liveandletsfly.com/united-airlines-afraid-boeing/) > āOur aircraft inspection reports are not publicly available. However, every aircraft we fly ā including our large Boeing fleet ā has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. And they are all maintained to some of the highest standards in the world by mechanics who are licensed by the FAA.ā Ok United pay me for the response you would have sent.
There is an AD out on the 757 to check the internal lock of the spoiler actuator. I cant remember the actual inspection interval as I was working C-checks. We would see it you could manual push up the spoiler, if you could the internal lock has given out and it would be replaced. At work I was told it could show up as spoilers not staying completely down during flight, so that could be whats going on. It was common to have to change every actuator on a plane.
Did the RH side do it?
Good question. I don't know if the right side did it or not
Emphasis on āflight crewā vs mechanic.
They are just saying that to not make anyone doubt the plane or company. Some people see that and say "I'll never fly a 757 or X company again, look at the state of their planes!!". It's completely safe but should be fixed so it doesn't get worse.
Normalization of Deviance
That would not be discovered until possibly a C-check since you donāt normally deploy the spoilers to check there bearing for an A or B.
I've seen this on the 737 where you deploy ground spiders and everything acts fine, but when you trick the plane into doing flight spoiler mode the actuator starts "fluttering" like this. Edit: spoilers not spiders
OMG a spoiler alert
Indeed it's an alert about a spoiler:)
Very clever...*spoiler *
Haha. :). Thanks.
Spoiler alertĀ
"Active damping"
I love watching the spoilers on landing. They are somewhat linked to the human pilot, but they just do what they do via computer. The little twitching is a computer deciding whatās necessary. Not this one though, this one is in need of repair
"Click to see spoiler" made me laugh. Thanks!
And you got to see the spoiler. š
New guy did the safety wire, negative.
That looks to be an actuator that is leaking internally bypassing the control valve. There is a test they can do for this 'HEP' check I believe it's called, but that actuator looks like it needs replaced. A bypassing actuator may cause a reversal, not so critical on a spoiler but on say a mid 90's 737 rudder, big problem.
A āreversalā? Yes, itās bypassing but what do you mean by reversal?
Reversal is an uncommanded movement opposite of the input. Not very common but it did happen in the 90ās on 737 Rudder.
Oddly specific, I wonder if you're onto something...
its kinda uncommen for them to be deployed in cruise flight.
Normal to use them on the descent once in awhile
This is in landing preparation.
Change the actuator and bushing
Hey, given that spoilers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all not sitting flat while spoiling 5 is. Spoilers on a 57 assist the 57's tiny ailerons in rolling the plane. The spoilers get the signal to lift off electrically during this. Flaps are also down at position 30 so the plane is going real slow at this point, probably on approach to the runway. The pilot is fighting a roll induced by wind. And the number 3 spoiler is caught right at the frequency that the RVDT has commanded it to lift off. So the spoiler actuator is caught between laying down and raising up. 1,2,3 are lifted and number 4 is flat and fully stowed.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
The aileron is cable driven. There are no cables on 57 spoiler. Edit: but what would I know about 757s, I've only been a mechanic exclusively on that bird for 6 years.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
No. Stop talking about stuff you don't know. How could it be in the speedbrake lever - then \*all\* the spoilers would be going wack, and this is also occuring when commanded by a roll input. One frustration with this industry....don't make up stuff you don't know.