The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a safety alert regarding a potential rudder control issue affecting Boeing 737 aircraft. The alert warns of the risk of jammed or restricted rudder movement, which could pose a significant safety hazard.
NTSB Investigation Drives FAA Action
The FAA issued its safety alert following an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the potential rudder control issue affecting Boeing 737 aircraft.
The investigation arose from an incident involving a United Airlines flight in February. The rudder pedals on a United 737-8 MAX became “stuck” in the neutral position during a landing at Newark.
The resultant findings pinpointed a batch of 271 rudder actuator components affected with a manufacturing issue. The NTSB’s investigation highlighted the serious safety implications of this problem and signaled the need for immediate action.
Last week, the NTSB revealed that more that 20 international airlines were potentially operating 737NG or 737 MAX aircraft with one of the problematic rudder actuators.
In its communication to the FAA, the NTSB was scathing in its criticism of the US aviation agency. NTSB chair, Jennifer Homendy, directed comments in a letter to the FAA administrator, Mike Whitaker. Homendy said that the FAA had not taken the issue as seriously as it should have, despite the potential risks involved.
The NTSB emphasized that its investigation had uncovered evidence of the problem’s severity and the need for urgent corrective measures.
The NTSB’s involvement was instrumental in prompting the FAA to issue the safety alert and to take steps to address the issue.
FAA Actions: SAFO 24006
The FAA has now issued a Safety Alert for Operators. SAFO 24006 addresses the rudder issue and provides recommended actions.
The primary cause of the issue is moisture accumulation within the Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA). This moisture can lead to freezing and restricted rudder movement, particularly during low-visibility conditions like Category IIIB landings.
To address the issue, the FAA has advised airlines to inspect the rudder systems of their Boeing 737 aircraft and implement enhanced monitoring protocols.
These protocols will help identify and prevent potential problems before they can lead to serious safety incidents.
Airlines affected by the alert will now work closely with Boeing and Collins Aerospace to develop and implement solutions. These solutions may include updates to maintenance procedures, modifications to the RRGA components, or other measures to improve the reliability of the rudder control system.
The FAA will now monitor the situation and will continue to provide updates as necessary.
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