Textron Aviation Cited for 2019 Explosion at Kansas Site

July 1, 2020

Federal regulators have cited aircraft maker Textron Aviation for a December 2019 explosion that injured 15 workers at its Wichita, Kansas, manufacturing plant.

U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Textron had a serious violation when it failed to protect employees from “autoclave explosion hazards” at the facility, KWCH-TV reports.

The agency has proposed a $13,494 penalty for the violation.

Liquid nitrogen in a pressurized vessel it referred to as Autoclave 8 built up and suffered a “catastrophic thermal fatigue failure.”

In addition to the fine, OSHA says Textron must also develop and implement measures to “effectively control, discover, maintain and repair pressure vessels, including autoclaves.”

The blast at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Wichita, caused part of the building to collapse, authorities said.

Related:

Topics Aviation Kansas Training Development Aerospace

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