Aeroplane manufacturer Boeing is urging all 737 MAX operators to inspect their aircraft for a loose bolt in the rudder control system, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said on 28 December.
Under consultation with the FAA, Boeing has urged operators to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose bolts.
Boeing recommended the inspections after an operator found a loose bolt during a routine inspection on one of its aircraft, the FAA added. The airlines also discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.
“The agency is asking the airlines to work through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify whether any loose hardware has been detected previously and to provide the agency with details on how quickly these two-hour inspections can be completed,” the FAA’s statement added.
Three Indian operators – SpiceJet, Air India and Akasa Air – have already been contacted by the DGCA, India’s equivalent to the FAA, according to NDTV. Both regulatory agencies are monitoring the unfolding situation closely. The issue, so far, is said to have no effect on these airlines’ ongoing operations.
In a statement, Boeing said: “The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings.”
