The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued urgent safety recommendations to the FAA and Boeing to check the rudder control system on some 737 jets.
According to the agency, a February 6 incident involving a United Airlines 737 MAX 8 is being investigated after the rudder pedals became “stuck” in the neutral position during landing at Newark Airport in New Jersey.
The captain was eventually forced to use the nose gear rudder to control the aircraft after landing. There was no damage to the 737 and no injuries to the 155 passengers and six crew members.
The system is supplied by Collins Aerospace, part of the RTX group, and has been tested by NTSB investigators. According to them, in cold conditions the actuators’ function was significantly compromised.
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According to Collins, more than 353 actuators of this type have been delivered to Boeing since 2017. The equipment is used by some versions of the 737NG and 737 MAX.
“The NTSB has recommended that Boeing ‘determine appropriate flight crew responses besides applying maximum pedal force’ for such situations in flight or during landing,” the US safety agency said.
The FAA said that only United operated aircraft with the faulty actuator, but that all had been replaced months ago. American Airlines, however, acknowledges that some of its 737s had the component.
