Aircraft Parts Fraud: The TAP Bolt That Saved Flights
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By Captain Bassani - ATPL/B-727/DC-10/B-767 - Former Air Accident Inspector SIA PT. https://www.personalflyer.com.br - captbassani@gmail.com - Feb/2026
A bolt that didn't fit a TAP CFM56 engine during routine maintenance exposed one of aviation's largest recent parts frauds. Without this technical discovery, AOG Technics' criminal scheme could have continued indefinitely, circulating unapproved components globally in A320 and B737 engines.
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The AOG Technics Case
From 2019-2023, UK-based AOG Technics falsified thousands of EASA Form 1 and FAA 8130-3 certificates, selling unapproved parts for CFM56/CF6 engines worth £7 million. In February 2026, The operations director was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months at Southwark Crown Court for fraud (Serious Fraud Office). In total, AOG sold 5,627 individual parts with falsified documentation to Ethiopian Airlines for approximately £1.1 million (about €1.29 million). Meanwhile, American Airlines, although it did not purchase directly from AOG, identified 28 engines affected by non-approved components, accumulating losses exceeding £21 million (around €24.57 million).
Critical trigger
Investigation began when an AOG-supplied bolt failed to fit properly during TAP engine maintenance. This simple misfit revealed inconsistent documentation, triggering global FAA, EASA, UK CAA, and Transport Canada alerts.
Specific CFM56 Technical Risks
CFM56 engines operate under extreme conditions (14,000–15,000 RPM, 1,400–1,500°C, 9 to 15 tonnes of thrust).
Counterfeit parts introduce:
TECHNICAL RISK | POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCE |
Bolts with wrong specs | Premature fatigue failure |
Inadequate materials | Accelerated hot-section corrosion |
Incorrect tolerances | Misalignment, excessive vibration |
Falsified documentation | Complete loss of traceability |
Catastrophic failure potential
Uncontained engine failure from separation of critical components (fan blades, compressor stages), with fragments penetrating nacelle and fuselage.
Immediate Regulatory Response
August 2023: FAA UPN 2023-AAE-EHL-20230801-713 alerts suspect/unapproved parts
Aircraft grounded worldwide for inspection
American Airlines: Dozens of CFM56 engines disassembled
Ethiopian Airlines: Parts removed preventively
Critical Lessons for Aviation
Zero tolerance for deviations: "almost fits" does not exist in aviation maintenance
Technical empowerment: mechanics must stop and report anomalies
Systematic process of technical, operational, documentation, and regulatory verification before accepting any asset, supplier, operation, or decision
Just culture: no punishment for reporting "minor issues"
Safe Flights!
Captain Luiz Bassani
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Souces
Executive Digest. (2026). Bolt sold to TAP by ex-DJ exposes multimillion-dollar fraud in aviation.https://executivedigest.sapo.pt/parafuso-vendido-a-tap-por-ex-dj-revela-fraude-milionaria-na-aviacao/
Federal Aviation Administration. (2023). Unapproved Parts Notification 2023-AAE-EHL-20230801-713. https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/programs/sups/upn/2023-AAE-EHL-20230801-713
Serious Fraud Office. (2026). AOG Technics Ltd. https://www.gov.uk/sfo-cases/aog-technics-ltd
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