Safety investigators have issued 'urgent' recommendations to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after discovering a potential safety issue with the rudder assembly in 737 Max jetliners. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made these recommendations following an incident involving a United Airlines plane earlier this year.
The NTSB found that pedals used by pilots to steer the aircraft on runways can become jammed due to moisture leakage into the rudder assembly, leading to freezing. Collins Aerospace, a supplier to Boeing, identified that a sealed bearing was incorrectly assembled on actuators for the rudders, affecting at least 353 actuators installed on some Max jets and older 737s.
