Boeing Faces More Safety Concerns Due to Rudder Issue

The National Transportation Safety Board issued urgent safety recommendations regarding a rudder malfunction on Boeing’s best-selling plane, the 737.

The problem is somewhat contained as it appears only to effect those planes bought by United Airlines. There is a manufacturing defect in the rudder control system. The Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the situation.

“We have been monitoring this situation closely. … We will convene a corrective action review board based upon the NTSB’s interim recommendations and determine next steps,” the agency said in a statement.

Boeing said, “We are working with our supplier to develop additional guidance.”

Nonetheless, the NTSB recommended that Boeing tell all carriers that there is a possibility that the rudder control system can jam. The NTSB also urged Boeing to come up with better instructions for pilots as to how to handle rudder jams.

Boeing said it will “ensure flight crews have the appropriate operating procedures.”

The enforcement recommendations stem from an incident earlier this year in which a United pilot found that the pedals that operate the rudder were stuck.

A NTSB spokesperson said the problem is with the manufacturing of the product itself and not necessarily with Boeing. However, the perception is that it still casts aspersions on the company which has suffered greatly from safety protocol issues this year.

In addition to other problems, Boeing is currently facing an internal strike that has caused the company almost half a billion dollars so far in one week.