Boeing is currently under investigation following an incident involving a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that occurred last month. The flight was en route from the Bahamas to Newark, New Jersey on February 6, with all 161 passengers and crew members escaping unharmed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report indicating that the aircraft experienced issues with its rudder pedals during landing.
Rudder pedals are crucial for pilots to control the yaw of the aircraft, determining the direction in which the nose is pointing. The incident took place during the landing rollout phase, where the rudder pedals were reportedly stuck in a neutral position, failing to respond to normal pressure application by the pilots.
Following the incident, the captain of the flight noticed the problem and alerted the first officer, who confirmed the issue. Subsequently, the rudder pedals began functioning normally again. The Boeing 737 Max was promptly taken out of service for maintenance and troubleshooting.
United Airlines conducted a test flight three days later, replicating the malfunction. This prompted the involvement of the NTSB, along with United, Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Collins Aerospace, the manufacturer of the rudder control system, in the ongoing investigation.
Boeing stated that this was the sole reported instance of such an issue with its 737 Max fleet. The company acknowledged two similar occurrences with the previous generation, the 737 NG, in 2019, which were resolved by replacing the component.
Collaborating with United, Boeing successfully resolved the issue by replacing three parts, allowing the aircraft to return to service last month. Boeing expressed appreciation for the NTSB's preliminary report and affirmed its commitment to supporting the investigation.
Boeing has been under increased scrutiny since a January incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, where the NTSB's preliminary findings revealed that the aircraft left the factory without essential bolts in place.
