NTSB issues urgent safety recommendations on Boeing 737 rudder system

The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday issued urgent safety recommendations to Boeing (NYSE:BA) concerning the potential for a jammed or restricted rudder control system on some 737 jets.

The NTSB said it is investigating a February 6, 2024 incident in which the rudder pedals on a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 were “stuck” in their neutral position during a landing at Newark Liberty International Airport; there was no damage to the airplane or injuries to the 155 passengers and six crew members.

The NTSB recommended Boeing (BA) notify flight crews that the rudder control system can jam due to moisture that has accumulated inside the actuators, and that Boeing “determine appropriate flight crew responses besides applying maximum pedal force” for such situations in flight or during landing.

The agency also recommended the Federal Aviation Administration determine if actuators with incorrectly assembled bearings should be removed from airplanes, and if so, to direct U.S. operators to do so until replacements are available.

The actuators were manufactured by RTX’s (RTX) Collins Aerospace unit, which determined a bearing was incorrectly assembled during production of the actuators and said more than 353 actuators delivered since February 2017 to Boeing (BA) were affected by the condition, the NTSB said.