TOKYO (AP) — Japanese and U.S. investigators began aprobe Monday into the maker of the lithium ion
batteries used inBoeing’s grounded 787 jets.Tsutomu Nishijima, a spokesman for GSYuasa, the battery
manufacturer, said investigators visited thecompany’s headquarters in Kyoto, Japan and that Yuasa was
cooperatingwith the probe.All 50 of the 787 Dreamliners that Boeing hasdelivered to airlines were grounded
after an overheated battery forcedthe emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways 787 flight last week
inwestern Japan. Boeing has halted deliveries of new planes until it canaddress the electrical
problems.Monday’s investigation involvedan introductory meeting and factory tour, with deeper studies
intoproduct quality and other issues to follow as the probe continues, saidTatsuyuki Shimazu, the chief air
worthiness engineer at the CivilAviation Bureau’s Aviation Safety Department.Two investigatorsfrom the U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration and an investigator fromJapan’s government were conducting the probe into
how the batteries aremade and assembled and into any quality issues, he said."We arein the midst of
collecting information, so as to whether there is aproblem or not has not yet been determined," Shimazu
said.Nishijima of GS Yuasa said he could not comment on details of the investigation.Theburned insides of
the ANA battery showed it received voltage in excessof its design limits. However, a battery that caught
fire in a JapanAirlines Boeing 787 in Boston earlier this month was found not to havebeen overcharged.U.S.
government investigators said there could still be problems with wiring or other charging components.Inthe
U.S., investigators from the National Transportation Safety Boardplanned to meet Tuesday with officials from
Securaplane TechnologiesInc., manufacturer of the charger for the 787s lithium ion batteries, atthe
company’s headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., said Kelly Nantel, aspokeswoman for the board.Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press.