The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed the inspection of the fuel control switches of an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft at the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) facility in the presence of DGCA officers.

According to the DGCA, the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft VT-ANX was grounded on 2nd February this year after operating flight AIC-132 from London’s Heathrow Airport to Bengaluru. The action followed an entry in the Pilot Defect Report stating that the left fuel control switch slipped from RUN to CUTOFF when pushed slightly and did not lock positively in the selected position.

The DGCA said that Air India carried out inspection and functional testing of the fuel control switches as per procedures prescribed by the OEM and in the presence of DGCA officers. After reviewing the inspection results and evidence provided, the OEM concluded that the fuel control switch was mechanically functioning as designed and declared the unit serviceable.

However, as part of continued airworthiness monitoring, the DGCA has directed that the fuel control switches be further inspected at the OEM facility in the presence of DGCA officers.