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.
As a result, the NTSB recommended that Boeing update flight manuals to remove guidance advising pilots to use maximum pedal force to overcome a jammed rudder, as this could potentially cause sudden rudder movements leading to runway excursions. The FAA stated that United Airlines is the only U.S. carrier impacted by these recommendations and believes that the affected parts are no longer in use.
Following an incident on February 6, where the rudder pedals on a United Airlines Boeing Max 8 became stuck during landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, the captain had to rely on the tiller to steer the aircraft safely off the runway. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers and crew on board.
The NTSB also recommended that the FAA assess whether actuators with incorrectly assembled bearings should be removed until replacements are available to ensure the continued safety of 737 Max jetliners and older 737 models.
