“Urgent” Safety Alert For Some Boeing 737s, NTSB Says

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an “urgent safety recommendation” for some Boeing 737 airplanes.

The alert involves “the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control system on some 737 airplanes,” the investigative agency wrote.

BREAKING: The NTSB is issuing “urgent safety recommendations” for some Boeing 737s, including the embattled 737 MAX line, warning that critical flight controls could jam — CNN

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 26, 2024

Per NTSB:

The NTSB is investigating a Feb. 6, 2024, incident in which the rudder pedals on a United Airlines Boeing 737-8, a MAX variant, were “stuck” in their neutral position during the landing rollout at Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark, New Jersey. The captain used the nosewheel steering tiller to control the airplane’s direction after touching down. There was no damage to the airplane or injuries to the 155 passengers and six crewmembers. A preliminary report detailing the circumstances of the event was published on March 12.

NTSB investigators tested one of the rudder control components from the incident airplane, a rollout guidance actuator, at the component’s manufacturer, Collins Aerospace. When the incident actuator and an identical unit from another airplane were tested in a cold environment, the actuators’ function was significantly compromised.

Investigators found evidence of moisture in both actuators, which failed testing. Collins Aerospace subsequently determined that a sealed bearing was incorrectly assembled during production of the actuators, leaving the unsealed side more susceptible to moisture that can freeze and limit rudder system movement.

Collins notified Boeing that more than 353 actuators that Collins had delivered to Boeing since February 2017 were affected by this condition.

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“The Federal Aviation Administration said it has been monitoring this situation closely and on Friday ‘will convene a corrective action review board based upon the NTSB’s interim recommendations and determine next steps,’” Breaking Aviation News & Videos wrote.

US National Transportation Safety Board issues urgent safety recommendations about the potential for a jammed rudder control system on some Boeing 737 airplanes after a February incident involving a United Airlines flight.

The NTSB is investigating an incident in which the… pic.twitter.com/bJaLrBZcaA

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) September 27, 2024

NTSB issues urgent safety recommendations on Boeing 737 rudder system. Rudder control system could jam or become restricted on some 737NG and 737MAX airplanes: https://t.co/WWC8eHXDFq

— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) September 26, 2024

“Boeing’s 737 flight manual instructs pilots confronted with a jammed or restricted rudder to ‘overpower the jammed or restricted system [using] maximum force, including a combined effort of both pilots,’” the NTSB stated.

“The NTSB expressed concern that this amount of force applied during landing or rollout could result in a large input to the rudder pedals and a sudden, large, and undesired rudder deflection that could unintentionally cause loss of control or departure from a runway,” it added.

“The FAA says United Airlines is the only US airline with 737s that use the components in question and that they are no longer being used,” CNN noted.

The NTSB is issuing “urgent safety recommendations” for some Boeing 737s, including the embattled 737 MAX line, warning that critical flight controls could jam https://t.co/5JEFAcrDwV

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 26, 2024

CNN reports:

In the last five years, Boeing has suffered a myriad of problems, some tragic and many embarrassing. Most of them have proven financially devastating.

Two fatal crashes of its 737 Max, one in October 2018 and the other in March 2019, killed 346 people and led to a 20-month grounding of Boeing’s best-selling plane and a halt in deliveries to fix a design flaw tied to the crashes.

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Boeing then faced a series of other questions about the quality and safety of its planes. That scrutiny grew after a door plug blew off a 737 Max operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after takeoff on January 5. Although no one was killed or seriously injured, the incident sparked numerous federal investigations, one of which revealed the plane had left a Boeing factory without the four bolts needed to hold the door plug in place.

Since then, Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges of deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration during the initial investigation of the Max. As part of its agreement with the US Justice Department, the company will have to operate under the supervision of a court-appointed monitor.

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This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.