A United Boeing 737 rotating out of Washington Dulles. [Photo: AirlineGeeks | Peter Weiland]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA issued a safety alert (SAFO) for specific Boeing 737 NG and Max series aircraft equipped with optional Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators (RRGA) due to the potential for jammed or restricted rudder movement.
This alert follows a United Airlines incident and an NTSB investigation that found moisture could enter and freeze in the RRGA due to incorrectly assembled sealed bearings, compromising rudder function in cold conditions.
Over 353 actuators are affected by this condition, and the SAFO provides guidance to flight crews on how to manage rudder restrictions encountered both in flight and during ground operations, including emergency procedures.
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.
