Thai YouTuber exposes substandard aircraft repairs

[webfact]

A YouTube aviation content creator exposed severe negligence by aircraft mechanics, revealing they had endangered pilots’ lives by performing substandard repairs. His inspection of the aircraft and his experience uncovered a series of shocking maintenance failures.

 

Warat Laithong, who runs the YouTube channel Flown By Prame, shared his disturbing findings on social media. He purchased a Commander 114 aircraft two years ago, registered as HS-AWS, which had undergone extensive restoration over two years. During this time, the aircraft had been serviced by three different teams of mechanics.

 

The last team of mechanics informed him yesterday that the aircraft was ready for flight tests and had received a Certificate of Airworthiness. This certification typically assures that an aeroplane is in good condition. However, during the test flight, Warat encountered several issues, the most severe being the propeller’s overspeed.

 

The Commander 114’s propeller is designed to operate at a maximum of 2,700 RPM, but during a low pass, the RPM surged to 3,000. When Warat reported this to the mechanics, they brushed it off, saying he wanted more power. They made some adjustments, but the problem persisted.

 

“After flying the aircraft for approximately 15 hours, my friends and I noticed that the propeller governor was incorrectly installed from the beginning. This was the root cause of the unstable RPM.”

 

A mechanic in Bang Phra immediately identified the issue and confirmed it with the aircraft’s manual, proving the installation was indeed incorrect.

 

Concerned about other potential hidden issues, Warat requested a thorough inspection of the entire aircraft by the Bang Phra mechanic. The results were alarming.

 

Some of the findings included:

Expired air filter foam with large holes, which was not an original part
Expired fuel hoses that were brittle and cracked
Expired air hoses that were torn
Engine mount rubbers that had hardened to the point of being rock-solid and incapable of absorbing engine vibrations
Rust on the wings
Dry, neglected control cables that had not been lubricated
An oil cooler that had not been flushed
Three bags of bird nests were found within the airframe
A screwdriver was left inside the engine compartment.

“How could the mechanic who installed the governor not read the manual and make such a mistake? And how did the one who logged the 100-hour annual inspection overlook all these expired parts?”

 

Warat suggested the only reason for not replacing the parts was a deliberate intent to cut corners, which he equated to endangering lives.

 

The YouTuber urged all mechanics involved in the faulty repairs to come forward, admit their mistakes, and prepare for legal consequences. He emphasised that there would be no settlements or compensations, reported KhaoSod.

 

“I know many fellow pilots have faced similar issues with unscrupulous mechanics. I urge everyone to share their experiences so the aviation community becomes aware of these dangers.”

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-29

 

 

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[MikeandDow]

This is Normal Thai quality does not matter above lives as long as i get a bonus

[Watawattana]

I happen to know that the Thai aviation Regulator is a highly professional organisation.  Let's hope that the YouTuber is able to share these findings with them, including the names of those who appear not to have done their jobs.

[Will B Good]

 

 

Sad to say this comes as no shock.....I'd never fly even with Thai Air.....how many years were they red flagged?

 

 

Thai Airways is not currently red-flagged by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The airline had previously been flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2015/2016 due to safety concerns, but those issues have since been resolved.

Edited August 29 by Will B Good

[retarius]

Shameful, but sadly unsurprising. What is surprising is that these Cessna's and small aircraft are not dropping out go the sky like flies.

When you find a half-way decent builder or repairman here you hang on to him and shower him with gratitude and bonuses.

[Swiss1960]

If this happens with airplanes... what do you think happens within auto repair shops? 

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

How could the mechanic who installed the governor not read the manual and make such a mistake? And how did the one who logged the 100-hour annual inspection overlook all these expired parts?”

A mechanic in name only...

[hotchilli]

6 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

If this happens with airplanes... what do you think happens within auto repair shops? 

 

Same

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“How could the mechanic who installed the governor not read the manual and make such a mistake? And how did the one who logged the 100-hour annual inspection overlook all these expired parts?”

 

 

They don't care.....sad, but true.....look at how they drive.

 

 

[thesetat2013]

imagine how far this goes. Are these mechanics handling commercial aircraft? If so, then some serious checks need to be done before an even more severe crash happens. 

[mran66]

Substandard repairs or maintenance in Thailand??? Not plausible, must be fake news. 

[happysoul]

Wasn't the government willing to make Thailand as the hub of aircraft maintenance ? Well well, some work and education will need to be done... Should better stick as the hub of no brainers !

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

imagine how far this goes. Are these mechanics handling commercial aircraft? If so, then some serious checks need to be done before an even more severe crash happens. 

 

 

Agree....which I why I fly Emirates or Qatar.

[sqwakvfr]

1) The fact that a Rockwell Commander 114 is actually flying in Thaialnd is in a word amazing.  Even in the US this aircraft is rare.  Not excusing the level of maintenance but spare parts might be difficult to find for this aircarft because it went out of production many years ago and Rockwell went out of business many years ago. I once saw a 114 over 20 years ago in Long Beach,CA.

2) I have been a pilot for over 35 years and at one time owned a Cessna 172 but I have never stepped into a general aviation aircraft in Thailand and never will.

3) I have faith in most of the  airlines based in Thailand because the maintenance is supervised by and signed off by foreign maintenance managers.  I beleive many of these maintenance managers come from Europe.  

[smew]

Now we know why 7 Hong Kong tourists perished just recently in a small plane crash outside of BKK.....!!  

[smew]

12 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

1) The fact that a Rockwell Commander 114 is actually flying in Thaialnd is in a word amazing.  Even in the US this aircraft is rare.  Not excusing the level of maintenance but spare parts might be difficult to find for this aircarft because it went out of production many years ago and Rockwell went out of business many years ago. I once saw a 114 over 20 years ago in Long Beach,CA.

2) I have been a pilot for over 35 years and at one time owned a Cessna 172 but I have never stepped into a general aviation aircraft in Thailand and never will.

3) I have faith in most of the  airlines based in Thailand because the maintenance is supervised by and signed off by foreign maintenance managers.  I beleive many of these maintenance managers come from Europe.  

YES , agree: BBK Air and Thai Air, other airlines operating here in LOS are fake and fake their maintenance  books.

Thai maintenance approach is: as long as it starts and runs it must be good.. 

[smew]

35 minutes ago, mran66 said:

Substandard repairs or maintenance in Thailand??? Not plausible, must be fake news. 

sarcasm is the lowest form of humor !!

[JoePai]

16 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

 

3) I have faith in most of the  airlines based in Thailand because the maintenance is supervised by and signed off by foreign maintenance managers.  I beleive many of these maintenance managers come from Europe.  

But a few do not hence the plane that crashed a few days ago with all lives lost !

[Will B Good]

Just now, smew said:

sarcasm is the lowest form of humor !!

 

 

wit

[khunjeff]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Sad to say this comes as no shock.....I'd never fly even with Thai Air.....how many years were they red flagged?

 

 

Thai Airways is not currently red-flagged by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The airline had previously been flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2015/2016 due to safety concerns, but those issues have since been resolved.

 

I don't know anything about the UK CAA, but neither ICAO nor the US FAA red flags individual airlines. Thailand, not Thai Airways, received the red flag from those organizations due to insufficient government safety oversight.

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

I don't know anything about the UK CAA, but neither ICAO nor the US FAA red flags individual airlines. Thailand, not Thai Airways, received the red flag from those organizations due to insufficient government safety oversight.

 

 

Yikes.....the whole of Thailand?????

 

 

??????......The airline had previously been flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2015/206 due to safety concerns....????

Edited August 29 by Will B Good

[khunjeff]

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Yikes.....the whole of Thailand?????

 

 

??????......The airline had previously been flagged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2015/206 due to safety concerns....????

 

"The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has lifted a “significant safety concern” that it imposed against Thailand in 2015 because of concerns about the inadequate safety oversight of Thai-registered air carriers.

 

"ICAO’s action two years ago was followed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration International Aviation Safety Assessment Program’s downgrading of Thailand to Category II status, which has limited operations by Thai carriers to and from U.S. airports.

 

"According to ICAO, a significant safety concern does not necessarily indicate a particular safety deficiency involving air navigation service providers, aircraft operators or airports, “but rather indicates that the State is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO Standards."” 

 

https://flightsafety.org/thailand-red-flag/

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

"The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has lifted a “significant safety concern” that it imposed against Thailand in 2015 because of concerns about the inadequate safety oversight of Thai-registered air carriers.

 

"ICAO’s action two years ago was followed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration International Aviation Safety Assessment Program’s downgrading of Thailand to Category II status, which has limited operations by Thai carriers to and from U.S. airports.

 

"According to ICAO, a significant safety concern does not necessarily indicate a particular safety deficiency involving air navigation service providers, aircraft operators or airports, “but rather indicates that the State is not providing sufficient safety oversight to ensure the effective implementation of applicable ICAO Standards."” 

 

https://flightsafety.org/thailand-red-flag/

 

 

Even bigger YIKES!

[PETERTHEEATER]

Rust on the wings? Only ferrous metals are liable to rust yet the wings of the subject aircraft are fabricated from aluminium alloys.🤔

[RethairedJarhead]

I’ve worked in aviation maintenance in a past life so the headline caught my eye. Probably was not my best choice of reading material as I wait on my 1 hour Airasia flight from Don Mueang🙂

 

[Rhys]

Mate like a boat, you are going to learn to fix it yourself... when you can.. all the best.  Skyking

[Liverpool Lou]

39 minutes ago, smew said:

Now we know why 7 Hong Kong tourists perished just recently in a small plane crash outside of BKK.....!!  

Do we?   No, we do not.

[Liverpool Lou]

38 minutes ago, smew said:

BBK Air and Thai Air, other airlines operating here in LOS are fake and fake their maintenance  books.

You have anything empirical to back up that defamatory assertion?

[Liverpool Lou]

38 minutes ago, smew said:

sarcasm is the lowest form of humor !!

It, certainly, is not.

[Will B Good]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

It, certainly, is not.

 

 

 

Oh yes it is........variety theatre?