Urgent Safety Recommendations for Boeing 737

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued urgent safety recommendations regarding a potential issue with the rudder control system on certain Boeing 737 airplanes following a February incident involving a United Airlines flight.

Incident Overview

The NTSB is actively investigating an incident where the rudder pedals on a United Boeing 737 MAX 8 were “stuck” in the neutral position during landing at Newark, fortunately with no injuries reported among the 161 passengers and crew.

Affected Aircraft

United Airlines stated that the potentially problematic rudder control parts are in use on only nine of its 737 aircraft, which were originally built for other airlines. These components were removed earlier this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring the situation and plans to convene a corrective action review board to decide next steps based on the NTSB’s recommendations.

According to the NTSB, there are currently no 737s in the United States operating with the affected actuators. These actuators were previously installed on some 737 MAX and earlier generation 737 NG planes that included an optional landing system. Until recently, United was the only U.S. operator using these components, as confirmed by the FAA.

Recommendations Made by NTSB

The NTSB recommended that Boeing inform flight crews about the potential for the rudder control system to jam due to moisture accumulation inside the actuators, which can freeze. They advised the need for Boeing to identify appropriate flight crew responses beyond applying maximum pedal force during flight or landing under such conditions.

Furthermore, the NTSB urged the FAA to evaluate whether certain actuators produced by Collins Aerospace (a unit of RTX) should be removed from aircraft and suggested that operations be halted until replacement units are installed. The NTSB also wants the FAA to alert international aviation regulators if it decides to remove the components.

Collins Aerospace acknowledged a bearing was incorrectly assembled during the production of these actuators, which were delivered to Boeing since February 2017, affecting over 353 of them according to the NTSB.

Boeing’s Response

Boeing is currently reviewing the NTSB’s recommendations to ensure that flight crews receive appropriate guidance. The company previously informed affected 737 operators about a potential issue with the rudder rollout guidance actuator, which is part of an optional autoland system. Boeing assured that the autoland system includes layers of redundancy and is working with its supplier to provide additional guidance to mitigate this potential issue.

RTX has committed to continue collaboration with the NTSB and Boeing during the ongoing investigation, support Boeing, and assist operators in addressing operational impacts.