Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
THE US NATIONAL Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging the US Federal Aviation Administration to require that Boeing make various changes to the design of 737 rudder-control and system components.
Three of 14 NTSB recommendations would require Boeing 737 design changes, and include the introduction of a system to prevent the potential for loss of control from an inadvertent rudder hardover. A redesign of the yaw-damper system, to eliminate the potential for sustained uncommanded yaw-damper-control events is urged, as is the installation of cockpit displays to indicate rudder position and movement. It is also recommended that Boeing set service-life limits for certain rudder-control parts.
The recommendations result from the NTSB's probe of the United Airlines 737-200 accident near Colorado Springs and the USAir 737-300 crash in Pittsburgh, as well as an uncommanded rudder-displacement incident experienced by an Eastwind Airlines 737 crew in June.
Source: Flight International
