SAN FRANCISCO, OCTOBER 2 – The United States (US) transport authority yesterday warned that at least 40 foreign air operators may be using Boeing 737 aircraft with rudder components that could potentially pose a safety risk.
The Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, in her letter to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Whitaker, expressed concern that the FAA did not take the issue seriously until a safety recommendation report was issued immediately, despite the risk of losing control of the aircraft or a runway violation due to a jammed or restricted rudder control system.
“I am concerned because the FAA as an authority does not take this issue more seriously until a safety recommendation report is issued immediately, even though there is a risk of aircraft control being compromised due to a problem with the rudder system,” said Homendy.
He also expressed disappointment that in the six months since the NTSB issued its initial report on the incident, the FAA has yet to take immediate action to address the problem. Homendy also pointed out that the FAA’s claim that the components involved are no longer in use is inaccurate based on the latest information obtained from Boeing.
On Thursday, the NTSB issued a safety recommendation to Boeing and the FAA regarding the possible failure of the rudder control system on some Boeing 737 aircraft.
The NTSB is investigating an incident that occurred on February 6, in which the rudder pedals on a United Airlines Boeing 737-8 (MAX variant) were found to be “stuck” in the neutral position during landing at Newark Liberty Airport, New Jersey.
NTSB investigators conducted tests on the actuator, one of the rudder control components from the aircraft involved in the incident, at the manufacturer’s Collins Aerospace plant. Tests in cold conditions found that the actuator function was significantly affected. Collins Aerospace identified that the sealed bearings on the component had been improperly installed, leaving the unsealed parts more susceptible to moisture that could freeze and interfere with the movement of the rudder system. – Xinhua
