FAA Alerts Boeing 737 Operators to Potential Rudder Jamming from Collins Aerospace Component
WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety alert today, warning operators about the potential for restricted or jammed rudder movement in certain Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA).
This action follows an urgent recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which identified possible rudder issues in the wake of an investigation into a February incident involving a United Airlines flight.
Moisture accumulation, which may freeze in flight, could lead to jammed rudder controls during landing. Flight crews are advised to follow Boeing's procedures for handling restricted rudder situations and perform checks using the autopilot systems. Airlines should be familiar with the alert and relevant Boeing guidance to ensure safe operations. Boeing had already notified affected 737 operators of a rudder issue in August, and the FAA emphasized that existing automated checks can detect rudder limitations before landing.
The NTSB is investigating a United Airlines 737 MAX 8 incident where rudder pedals became stuck during landing. While no injuries occurred, the event highlighted the risk, prompting further FAA scrutiny. The NTSB reported that 271 potentially affected parts could be in use across U.S. and foreign airlines, with concerns over undetected rudder actuators posing safety risks.
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