FTW93IA125

A slight vibration was felt as the airplane was climbing through FL310 for an assigned altitude of FL390 during a domestic IFR cross country flight. A passenger seated on the left side of the airplane observed portions of the skin on a non-structural wing panel on the left wing peeling off and separating from the wing and informed a crewmenber of the condition. A precautinary landing was made without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that a section, 48 inches wide by 31 inches long, had separated from the trailing edge of the fixed trailing edge upper panel on the left wing. Additionally, a three inch portion of the trailing edge on the left fore flap panel was also damaged, and separated from the airplane. According to maintenance personnel contracted by the operator, the delamination of the honycomb panel was the result of water contamination.

On April 12, 1993, at approximately 0954 central daylight time, a Boeing 747-269BC, Kuwait registration 9KADD, operating as Kuwait Airlines Flight 091, sustained minor damage when a non structural panel on the left wing became delaminated while the airplane was climbing through FL 310, approximately 25 miles south of Alexandria, Louisiana.

There were no injuries to the 24 passengers, 6 flight crewmenbers, and 10 flight attendants aboard. The airplane departed Ellington Field (EFD) near Houston, Texas, at approximately 0921, enroute to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. A passenger seated on the left side of the airplane observed portions of the skin on a wing panel on the left wing peeling off and informed a crewmember of the condition.

The airplane was diverted to the Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in Houston, Texas, where a uneventful landing was made at 1028, with airport emergency equipment standing by.

According to the operator, a slight vibration was felt on the left side of the airplane after part of the skin departed the airplane. Physical examination of the airplane revealed that a section (48 inches wide by 31 inches long), separated from the trailing edge of the fixed trailing edge upper panel (part number 65B22845 33) on the left wing. There was evidence of delamination, working rivets, and rows of rivets pulled through the skin on the remaining fiberglass laminated honeycomb panel. Additionally, a 3 inch portion of the trailing edge on the left wing fore flap panel, was also damaged and separated from the aircraft. There was no other damage to the airplane.

According to maintenance personnel returning the airplane to service, the delamination of the honeycomb panel was the result of water contamination.