NTSB issues ‘urgent safety recommendation’ over Boeing 737s

Craig Nigrelli

ANOTHER STRIKE AGAINST THE ALREADY EMBATTLED JET MAKER BOEING – THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS ISSUED AN “URGENT SAFETY RECOMMENDATION”… WARNING CRITICAL FLIGHT CONTROLS COULD JAM IN CERTAIN PASSENGERS PLANES.

THE ISSUE WAS FIRST SEEN ON A UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT IN FEBRUARY – BUT THE N-T-S-B NOW SAYS IT COULD HAPPEN ON OTHER PLANES.

THE WARNING APPLIES TO 737 MAX AND AND 737 NEXT GENERATION MODELS – WHICH ARE THE TWO NEWEST VERSIONS OF THE COMPANY’S MOST POPULAR PLANE.

THE N-T-S-B SAYS A PIECE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM CAN STOP FUNCTIONING IN COLD WEATHER.

DURING THE INCIDENT IN FEBRUARY – THE RUDDER PEDALS GOT STUCK ON A FLIGHT RETURNING TO NEWARK… FORCING THE PILOT TO CONTROL THE PLANE USING ITS NOSEWHEEL STEERING SYSTEM.

IT LANDED FINE AND NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE INCIDENT WAS ALARMING ENOUGH TO PROMPT AN INVESTIGATION.

IT FOUND COMPONENTS FROM A CERTAIN MANUFACTURER WERE THE ISSUE.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION SAYS UNITED IS THE ONLY U-S AIRLINE THAT HAS PLANES WITH THOSE COMPONENTS… AND SAYS IT’S THEIR QUOTE “UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UNITS ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE.”