NTSB Issues Urgent Safety Recommendations on Boeing 737 Rudder Following Newark Incident, Reports Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued urgent safety recommendations on Thursday regarding a potential jammed rudder control system affecting certain Boeing 737 airplanes. This follows a February incident involving a United Airlines flight.

The investigation centers around an event in which the rudder pedals of a United Boeing 737 MAX 8 became "stuck" in a neutral position while landing in Newark. Thankfully, there were no injuries among the 161 on board.

United Airlines reported that the problematic rudder control parts were installed in only nine of its 737 aircraft, which had originally been built for other airlines. The company confirmed that these components were removed earlier this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring the situation and will convene a corrective action review board on Friday to assess the NTSB’s interim recommendations and determine the next steps.

According to the NTSB, there are currently no 737 aircraft operating in the United States with the affected actuators. These were previously installed in some 737 MAX and earlier-generation 737 NG airplanes featuring an optional landing system. United was the sole U.S. operator with these components in use, as noted by the FAA.

The NTSB recommended that Boeing inform flight crews about the possibility of the rudder control system jamming due to moisture accumulation inside the actuators, which could freeze, and to identify proper responses for flight crews beyond merely applying maximum pedal force during flight or landing.

Additionally, the NTSB advised the FAA to evaluate whether some actuators produced by Collins Aerospace, a unit of RTX, should be removed from airplanes and to stop using those planes until replacements are installed. They also want the FAA to notify international aviation regulators if a decision is made to remove the components.

Collins Aerospace acknowledged that a bearing was improperly assembled during the production of the actuators and reported that more than 353 actuators delivered to Boeing since February 2017 are affected by this issue.

Boeing stated it is reviewing the NTSB’s recommendations and will ensure that flight crews receive appropriate guidance.

The company previously informed affected 737 operators in August about a potential condition with the rudder rollout guidance actuator, which is part of an optional autoland system. This system has multiple layers of redundancy, and Boeing is collaborating with its supplier to develop additional guidance to address the potential issue.

RTX confirmed it continues to work closely with the NTSB and Boeing during the investigation, supporting both Boeing and operators in minimizing operational impacts.