U.S. aviation regulator issues safety alert over rudder issue in some Boeing 737 planes
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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday issued a safety alert informing operators of the potential for limited or jammed rudder movement on certain Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 airplanes.
The FAA issued a so-called Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO). The aviation regulator’s action comes nearly two weeks after the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued safety recommendations to Boeing (BA) and the FAA over the jammed rudders.
The FAA’s safety alert involves certain Boeing 737 Next Generation and Boeing 737 MAX airplanes.
“The SAFO reminds crews to follow the existing Jammed or Restricted Flight Controls Non-Normal Checklist if they encounter limited or jammed rudder movement during flight,” the FAA told Seeking Alpha in an emailed statement.
“The SAFO also provides information on an existing automated check of the rudder system for airplanes equipped with certain systems that would identify limited or jammed rudder movement during approach prior to landing,” the regulator added.
The NTSB’s safety recommendations issued on September 26 urged Boeing (BA) to “determine appropriate flight crew responses” to a jammed rudder situation that did not involve the plane maker’s guidance to apply maximum pedal force.
The NTSB also urged the FAA to “determine if actuators with incorrectly assembled bearings should be removed from airplanes.”
The NTSB’s action came after it investigated a February 6 incident in which the rudder pedals on a United Airlines (UAL) flight became stuck in their neutral position during the landing rollout.
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