According to Business Insider, mechanics at Spirit AeroSystems were detected engaging in strange procedures during a recent Federal Aviation Administration assessment.
FAA auditors observed Spirit mechanics using liquid Dawn soap as a lubricant when fitting a door seal. Furthermore, mechanics at Spirit, which manufactures the fuselage for Boeing's 737 Max, were seen using a hotel key card to check a door seal and cleaning up with a damp cheesecloth.
The findings were part of a six-week audit documented in a set of FAA presentation slides. The audit found that Boeing had failed 33 of 89 product audits related to 737 Max production, while Spirit failed seven of 13 audits.
FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker says these are the types of potential problems the organization is determined to get to the bottom of.
In a statement, Spirit said:
"We have received preliminary findings from the FAA's special audit of 737 production, on which we will work with our customer to address and incorporate lessons identified through the process. Meanwhile, we continue multiple efforts undertaken to improve our safety and quality programs. These improvements focus on human factors and other steps to minimize nonconformities.
We recognize there is more to do, and any findings from the FAA will serve as a guide as we pursue additional opportunities to increase our precision and reduce opportunities for error. In so doing, as we have stated, our goal is zero defects."
