Category: 2024

Fasteners Broke off Wing during Southwest Airlines Flight

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

Passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Austin to Harlingen, Texas, in December 2015 experienced a
harrowing ordeal when a piece of the wing allegedly “fell off” during the journey. The Boeing 737, carrying
109 passengers and five crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing at San Antonio Airport.

Passenger Lorenzo Hernandez Jr. described the incident as a “near death experience,” recounting how
fasteners on the left side of the plane’s wing broke or came off, causing a panel to hang loose. He reported
that some passengers screamed to the aircrew as the plane experienced severe turbulence, with many
praying in the cabin.

Despite the frightening situation, Hernandez praised the staff and pilots for keeping calm and stabilizing the
plane. A Southwest spokesperson confirmed that the captain decided to divert the flight due to a flap track
canoe fairing appearing at an irregular angle. The aircraft landed safely without incident, and no injuries
were reported.

Another passenger, Hayden Ellis, recalled the pilot announcing over the tannoy that something had fallen off
the wing, while Clarissa Ellis mentioned that a flight attendant was alerted to the issue by a concerned
passenger.

Washington Metro Derailment Probe Finds Loose Bolts on Brakes

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Washington, DC, Metro has implemented new safety protocols following a derailment near Reagan National
Airport in September 2023. Investigations suggest the derailment was caused by a brake disc that had fallen
onto the track from another train due to loose bolts. The incident involved a 7000-series train with 43
passengers onboard, prompting a thorough inspection of Metro’s older rail cars.

Inspections revealed that approximately 6% of brake discs on Metro’s oldest cars had issues with loose or
defective bolts. In response, Metro now requires a torque check of bolts on its older cars every 60 days,
surpassing industry recommendations.

The derailment, which occurred when the 7000-series train hit a brake disc that had fallen from a preceding
3000-series train, damaged 310 feet (94 meters) of track and required extensive repairs. Metro workers had
to drill nearly 500 holes, install new studs, and replace over 240 rail fasteners to restore the track.
At Tsamouris, our commitment to providing top-tier bolts and fasteners reflects our dedication to public
safety and infrastructure integrity.

Missing Bolts Contributed to Brooklyn F Train Derailment

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Four missing high-strength Grade 8 bolts are at the center of the MTA’s investigation into the January 10,
2024, derailment of an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The bolts, which were meant to secure a critical
component called the “radius arm” to the train’s undercarriage, were discovered missing from the derailed
car.

Radius arms play a crucial role in keeping a subway car’s wheels and axles properly aligned during
movement. Experts warn that a fallen or broken radius arm can lead to a derailment.

While the cause of the derailment is still under investigation, with track issues and other factors not yet ruled
out, the MTA believes the missing bolts may have contributed to the incident. It remains unclear whether the
bolts broke before disappearing or were improperly installed.

In response to the derailment, the MTA has inspected approximately 50,000 radius arm bolts across its
subway fleet, focusing on R160 cars and similar designs. No systemic issues were found during these
inspections, and officials believe riders are not currently at risk.

At Tsamouris, we recognize the critical role that high-quality fasteners play in ensuring the safety and
reliability of transportation systems.

Pagani Huayra Bolts Cost as Much as a Porsche 911

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Pagani’s flagship hypercar, the Huayra, is a true marvel of engineering, boasting a powerful AMG-sourced
V12 engine and stunning design. But it’s the car’s 1,400 unique titanium bolts that truly showcase the
brand’s obsessive attention to detail.

Each bolt, made from grade 7 Titanium with added palladium for enhanced corrosion resistance, is
individually engraved with the Pagani logo. This level of craftsmanship comes at a price: a single bolt costs
around USD 95 (EUR 88), meaning the Huayra’s bolts alone are worth a staggering USD 133,000 (EUR
123,000) – enough to buy a brand new Porsche 911.

Pagani’s choice of high-quality, lightweight materials like Titanium ensures the Huayra can withstand the
rigors of high-performance driving while maintaining its impeccable aesthetics. The engraved bolts serve as
a subtle yet powerful reminder of the brand’s uncompromising commitment to excellence.

At Tsamouris, we share Pagani’s dedication to providing customers with fasteners that meet the highest
standards of strength, durability, and reliability. Discover our range of top-quality fasteners, the go-to choice
for Greece’s leading construction and industrial groups.

Bolt Problems at London’s US Embassy

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In 2015, thousands of bolts on the new US embassy in Vauxhall, London, needed replacement after some of
them were found faulty.

The GBP 800 million (USD 1 billion or EUR 940 million) cube-shaped embassy, America’s largest in the
Western world, was shrouded in secrecy due to its highly sensitive nature. While details remained scarce, it
was understood that the issues involved bolts on the building’s upper floors.

The steel company tasked with replacing the bolts was the same contractor that had to spend over 6 million
GBP (7.6 million USD or 7.5 million EUR) in 2014, when two of its bolts, each the size of a human arm, broke
on the 738 feet tall (225 meters) “Cheesegrater” skyscraper.

The steel company tasked with replacing the bolts at the embassy was the same one that had to spend over
6 million GBP (7.6 million USD or 7.5 million EUR) in 2014. At that time, three of the bolts it had installed in
the 738-foot (225-meter) “Cheesegrater” skyscraper in London, each the size of a human arm, broke, forcing
the contractor to replace all 3,000 bolts in the skyscraper. Thankfully, no one was injured.

An investigation into the “Cheesegrater” bolt failures revealed that they had fractured due to hydrogen
embrittlement, a process in which hydrogen atoms diffuse into a substance, combine, and create internal
pressure, causing the metal to weaken.

In an era where the complexity and scale of architectural projects continue to grow, the need for fastening
solutions that can withstand the test of time and the elements has never been more crucial.

Subsea Oil-Well Bolts Are Failing

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In 2013, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) launched an investigation into the failure of massive bolts
that secure subsea oil equipment in the Gulf of Mexico. The inquiry was triggered by a worldwide recall of
defective bolts by General Electric Co.’s oil-exploration equipment business, which reported incidents of
corrosion and snapping. These failures have led to costly shutdowns and raised serious concerns about the
safety of subsea wells.

The potential consequences of bolt failures in subsea oil equipment are severe, as they could lead to major
oil leaks with devastating environmental impacts. The 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, for example,
was linked to a record spike in marine animal deaths, particularly among bottlenose dolphins. The spill,
which occurred after the BP-owned Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, released more than four million
barrels of unprocessed oil before being sealed five months later, highlighting the difficulty and expense of
cleaning up such disasters.

The DOI’s investigation, along with two additional bolt failure incidents, has led industry officials and safety
regulators to believe that the problem extends beyond GE and its blowout preventers, which are critical
devices used to seal, monitor, and control oil and gas wells. Flaws have also been discovered in bolts
manufactured by GE’s competitors for similar equipment.

Manufacturers and regulators have identified several potential factors contributing to the bolt failures,
including the adequacy of the alloys used in the heavy steel bolts, the appropriateness of the coatings
applied to the bolts, and the practice of “over-torquing” by subcontractors, which can weaken the fasteners.
GE has acknowledged that over-torquing may have played a role in its bolt failures.

The bolt failures have been traced decades back, and while they have not yet resulted in any oil leaks,
regulators consider the issue to be of critical importance. The problem may affect more than 2,400 platforms
and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, 23 off the coast of California, and an active rig on the outer continental
shelf in Alaska.

As an officer of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement stated: ”If your smallest component
fails, you can’t expect a sophisticated many-million-dollar piece of equipment to prevent a leak.”

Paris 2024 Olympics — 2.5 Million Rivets Holding an Icon

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As the 2024 Paris Olympics unfold, besides the athletes, all eyes are on the Eiffel Tower. Held together by an
astounding 2.5 million rivets, this marvel of engineering shines even brighter during the Games, as it
receives a special golden paint job to commemorate the occasion.

The construction of the Eiffel Tower relied on a riveting technique that has become the monument’s
trademark. The process involved a team of four skilled riveters working in perfect harmony. One heated the
rivet, another held it in place, a third formed the head, and the final member of the team locked it in place
with a sledgehammer. This efficient method allowed for the tower to be assembled in a record-breaking time
of just two years, two months, and five days.

Many of the tower’s components were pre-assembled at a workshop in Levallois-Perret before being
transported to the site for final assembly. This approach not only streamlined the construction process but
also ensured the highest level of precision and quality control.

In total, the Eiffel Tower comprises 18,000 metal parts, held securely by 13,000 bolts and the aforementioned
2.5 million rivets. Despite the tower’s original design life of just 20 years, the use of high-quality materials
and the dedication to regular maintenance and replacement of various pieces have allowed it to stand tall for
over a century.

Here are 17 mind-blowing facts and figures about the Eiffel Tower

1⃣ Gustave Eiffel built the tower because he won a competition.

2⃣ Eiffel had to pay for much of the build himself.

3⃣ Eiffel didn’t work alone; a team of engineers, architects, and workers contributed.

4⃣ The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world.

5⃣ It changes height due to temperature fluctuations.

6⃣ It gets a regular lick of paint, using a special “Eiffel Tower Brown” color.

7⃣ It has over 1,700 steps.

8⃣ The first guided climbing tours launched in 2017.

9⃣ The elevators travel 2.5 times around the Earth every year.

🔟 You can see beyond Paris from the top on a clear day.

1⃣1⃣ In 1909, the tower was going to be demolished but was saved by Gustave Eiffel.

1⃣2⃣ It has 7 million visitors a year.

1⃣3⃣ It was sold by a con artist in 1925.

1⃣4⃣ It “got married” to a woman named Erica in 2007.

1⃣5⃣ The tower has 20,000 lights and sparkles for five minutes every hour after dark.

1⃣6⃣ It’s eco-friendly, producing its own electricity via hidden wind turbines.

1⃣7⃣ It was almost destroyed in WWII but was saved by a general who disobeyed orders.

Paris 2024 Olympic Medals

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Each one of the Olympic and Paralympic medals will be set with a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower,
forging a connection between the Games and the monument that symbolizes France and Paris. This
innovative idea was born from the collaboration between the Paris 2024 Athletes’ Commission and the
renowned LVMH jeweler Chaumet, resulting in a medal that is both a work of art and a piece of history.

The design of the medals draws inspiration from three key elements: the hexagon, radiance, and gemsetting.
The hexagon, the geometrical shape of France, is formed by the original Eiffel Tower iron, stripped of
its paint and returned to its original color. This symbol represents the entire nation’s commitment to
delivering an unforgettable Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Radiating from the central hexagon are fine, embossed lines that bring relief and sparkle to the medal,
embodying the radiance of France on the global stage and the shining performances of the athletes. The
gem-setting technique, inspired by the “Clous de Paris” hobnail shape the and the Eiffel Tower rivets,
secures the iron hexagon to the medal, adding depth and dimension to the design.

In a testament to the unity of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, both medals share the same design on
one side, featuring the Eiffel Tower iron. The ribbons, too, are adorned with the Eiffel Tower lattice work, with
the Olympic ribbons in dark blue and the Paralympic ribbons in a deep red, inspired by the first two coats of
paint used on the Eiffel Tower.

The reverse side of the Olympic medal tells the story of the rebirth of the Games in Greece, with the goddess
of victory Athena Nike emerging from the Panathenaic Stadium, joined by the Acropolis of Athens and, for
the first time, the Eiffel Tower. The Paralympic medals feature a graphic representation of the Eiffel Tower
from an upward perspective, surrounded by the words “Paris” and “2024” in universal Braille, symbolizing
accessibility and honoring its French inventor, Louis Braille.

Καλή επιτυχία Ελλάδα, Go, Hellenes, Hellènes, ramenez l’or!

Blade Fell off Wind Turbine Due to Loose Bolts

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An investigation has determined what caused a blade from a One Energy wind turbine to detach and fall to
the ground in Findlay, Ohio, on January 22, 2024.

One Energy, whose CEO Jereme Kent had emphasized the rarity of such an occurrence in his nearly 20-year
career in the wind industry, had immediately shut down its entire fleet of wind turbines pending a thorough
investigation.

The probe revealed that an abnormality in the bolted flange assembly, which connects the blade to the hub,
led to higher than intended load transfer to the blade bolts. This caused the bolts to fatigue much faster than
designed, eventually leading to a cascading failure of multiple bolts and the detachment of the blade.

In response to the findings, One Energy inspected every major bolted flange in each turbine and rechecked
the torque of each “field-installed” bolt before restarting the turbines. The company has also developed new
monitoring and testing programs, in collaboration with independent engineers and research institutions.

At Tsamouris, we believe that by working together as an industry to improve safety and maintenance
practices in fasteners, we can ensure the continued growth and success of renewable energy projects while
prioritizing the well-being of communities.

Tourist Finds Loose Screws on Cliff Trail Hundreds of Meters above Ground

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A tourist’s heart-stopping discovery of loose screws on a cable fixture while climbing a cliff trail in May 2024,
in Zhejiang province, eastern China, sparked concerns about the safety of adventure tourism. The incident,
captured on video, shows the tourist navigating a nerve-wracking path hundreds of meters above the ground
when he noticed the unsettling find.

The trail, which is equipped with steel cable fixtures every three meters, is designed to ensure the safety of
climbers. However, the presence of loose screws raises questions about the maintenance and inspection
procedures in place.

According to the trail manager, the steel cable undergoes regular maintenance and inspections. They also
assured that even if ten screws were missing, the cable would remain secure.

The trail, which is particularly crowded during China’s Golden Week holiday, has seen tourists stranded on
the cliff for more than an hour due to the high volume of visitors. In case of emergencies, a pickup service is
available at a cost of CNY 300 (USD 41 or EUR 38).

At Tsamouris, our commitment to providing reliable and durable bolts, nuts, screws, and other fasteners is
driven by the knowledge that even a single loose screw can pose a significant threat to human life.