A United Boeing 737 rotating out of Washington Dulles. [Photo: AirlineGeeks | Peter Weiland]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA issued a safety alert for some Boeing 737 (NG and MAX) aircraft, warning of a potential for jammed or restricted rudder movement.
This issue is attributed to a manufacturing defect in optional Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA), where incorrectly assembled bearings allow moisture to freeze and impair functionality.
The defect affects over 353 actuators delivered since 2017, prompting the FAA and Boeing to issue operational guidance for flight crews to manage the condition if encountered.
The FAA released a safety alert for operators (SAFO) of some Boeing 737 aircraft Tuesday, citing the potential for jammed or restricted rudder movement.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
