Tag: #LooseScrews

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

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

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.

Bugatti Recalled EUR 3 Million Chiron Due to Loose Screws

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In a striking reminder that even the most exclusive vehicles are not immune to fastener issues, Bugatti
recalled a single 2018 Chiron — with a jaw-dropping price tag of USD 3 million (EUR 2.7 million) — in April
2022 due to loose screws on the front frame.

Bugatti informed the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the loose screws could
compromise the Chiron’s structural integrity and increase the risk of injury in a crash.

While recalls are a common occurrence in the automotive industry, with the NHTSA seeing an average of
about 650 recalls involving 25 million cars annually, it is quite rare for a recall to involve a single vehicle —
Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and Lamborghini have all issued similar recalls for single vehicles due to
missing or improperly tightened fasteners.

At Tsamouris, we are committed to supplying you with high quality fasteners, ensuring the integrity of your
infrastructure and machinery.

Screws Coming Loose on Jet Wing Mid-Air

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In March 2023, a video surfaced on social media showing three screws visibly shaking on the left wing of a
TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 737-700 aircraft during flight.

The video, which quickly went viral, raised serious questions about the maintenance and safety standards of
the state-owned airline, which serves as the flag carrier of Angola. TAAG Angola Airlines, headquartered in
Luanda, operates domestic flights within Angola, as well as medium-haul services in Africa and long-haul
routes to Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal.

The incident highlighted the critical importance of proper maintenance and regular inspections of aircraft,
particularly in areas that are subject to high stress and vibration, such as the wings. Loose or missing
fasteners can potentially lead to structural issues, compromising the safety of passengers and crew.

Loose Wing Screw on Air China Boeing 737 Flight

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In July 2022, Air China found itself in the spotlight after a passenger on flight CA1921 from Beijing to
Hengyang noticed and recorded a loose wing screw on the Boeing 737NG aircraft. The video, which was
shared widely on Chinese social media platform Weibo, prompted the airline to take swift action and issue a
statement addressing the incident.

According to the statement, Air China “attached great importance” to the loose screw in the inboard canoe
fairing of the left flap and immediately inspected the relevant parts of the aircraft, repaired the loose screws,
and checked the entire fleet for similar issues.

The inboard canoe fairing, where the loose screw was located, is primarily used to regulate airflow, reduce
drag, and save fuel. The screws in question are responsible for fixing the flap track fairing tail cones, which
are a part of the inboard canoe fairing.

While there was no official explanation for the cause of the loose screw or its potential impact on flight
safety, aviation experts weighed in on the matter. Qiu Qing, an aviation blogger with over 300,000 followers
on Weibo, suggested that the issue could be attributed to either a broken supporting target in the fairing or
long-term vibration at the screw’s position.

According to the configuration deviation list (CDL) of the Boeing 737NG, it is acceptable for the aircraft to
take off without up to two flap track fairing tail cones. Veteran pilot Chen Jianguo told the Beijing Youth Daily
that one or two loose screws on the fairing would not affect safety, even if the fairing itself were missing.

Loose Screw Causes Gas Meter Leak

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In September 2022, a gas meter in the Kincaidston Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, was found to be ‘bubbling’ due to
a loose screw, raising concerns among residents still reeling from a devastating house explosion in the area
just months earlier.

Rikki Bell, a 34-year-old qualified plumber and heating engineer, captured shocking footage of the gas leak at
his parents’ home on Sorrel Drive. Bell’s parents had noticed the smell of gas near their front door and porch,
prompting their son to investigate.

Using leak detector fluid, Bell discovered that a nut on the meter, which had been installed just nine months
earlier as part of major replacement works following the Gorse Park explosion, had not been properly
tightened. “It was basically tightened by hand,” Bell explained, adding that it took about four full turns with a
spanner to stop the leak.

Rikki’s mum, Tracy Bell, contacted SGN, the gas network operator, but was disappointed by their response.
She felt that the customer service agent and engineer downplayed the severity of the issue, stating, “To be
told it is just a loose screw is not good enough… It does not fill you with confidence — I do not understand
how it could have happened, and it is gas, it is dangerous and it is not a water tap. Things like this should be
checked and checked again.”

This incident emphasizes the critical importance of properly installed and maintained gas fittings and the
potential consequences of even seemingly minor issues like loose screws.