NTSB Investigates Boeing Rudder Malfunction Incident in Newark

The NTSB has released its findings after an apparent rudder pedal malfunctioned on a Boeing 737-8 in February at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, March 08, 2024 at 02:21 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary report details a Boeing 737-8 incident where rudder pedals became "stuck" shortly after landing at Newark, preventing normal control until they unexpectedly began functioning normally about 30 seconds later.
The investigation suggests a disabled "rudder SVO-730 rollout guidance servo," though mechanically connected, likely malfunctioned due to cold temperatures, significantly increasing the torque required to move its output crank arm and thus restricting rudder pedal movement.
Post-incident troubleshooting and removal of the suspected servo and related components allowed the aircraft to operate normally in subsequent test flights, and the issue was resolved with part replacements.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the preliminary report into the investigation of an apparent rudder pedal malfunction on a Boeing 737-8 in February at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR).

As the rudders are a flight control system, federal regulations require the NTSB be notified in the event of a malfunction. According to the report, the servo that activates the rudders may have been adversely impacted by the cold.