The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States has announced its close monitoring of targeted inspections on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to address potential concerns related to loose bolts in the rudder control system.
This development stems from the identification of a bolt lacking a nut during routine maintenance on an international operator's aircraft's rudder-control linkage. Boeing subsequently discovered a similar issue with an undelivered aircraft, where a nut had not been adequately tightened.
In response, the FAA has pledged ongoing communication with Boeing and airlines during the inspection process. The agency has advised airlines to utilize their approved safety management systems to determine if any instances of loose hardware were previously detected.
Additionally, the FAA has indicated its willingness to take further action based on any additional findings of loose or missing hardware that may arise during the inspections.
In collaboration with the FAA, Boeing issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM) advising operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods controlling rudder movement for potential loose hardware.
Major U.S. carriers operating Boeing 737 Max jets, such as United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, have reassured that they do not anticipate any operational disruptions.
It is noteworthy that Boeing's 737 Max fleet faced a 20-month global grounding following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, resulting in a total of 346 casualties. The investigations focused on a flawed automated flight-control system that erroneously pushed the plane's nose down based on faulty sensor readings, a detail Boeing failed to disclose to pilots and airlines until after the initial crash.
