U.S. safety investigators issued urgent recommendations on Thursday for correcting problems that have caused electrical fires aboard Bombardier Inc. CRJ-200s, one of the most widely used regional jets in the U.S. commercial fleet.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that seven fires aboard the Canadian-made planes -- six within the past six months and none of them fatal -- were caused by short circuits in the aircraft's flight instrument electrical system.
Four of the fires knocked out electronic cockpit displays, preventing the crews from using their primary flight instruments, at least temporarily.
Investigators said certain electrical parts came in contact with water that had seeped through the cabin floor. The floor is exposed to rain and other outside moisture when the cabin door is open.
"The potential consequences of these fires can be catastrophic," said Mark Rosenker, acting safety board chairman.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which must decide whether to require domestic airlines to take action, said it is working with Canadian regulators who would be responsible for ordering any changes by the manufacturer. The FAA said some type of action is likely soon.
The safety board wants regulators to make Bombardier protect instrument electrical systems from moisture as soon as possible and replace certain components that investigators say are susceptible to short circuits.
Safety investigators also want other manufacturers to find out whether their aircraft include parts made with similar materials.
CRJ-200s, which seat 50 passengers, have been a workhorse of the U.S. regional jet fleet. But changes in U.S. airline business models, mainly brought on by industry financial pressures, have prompted carriers to begin phasing them out in recent years in favor of larger regional jets.
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