Posted on 12/28/2023 11:25:00 AM PST by Red Badger
The FAA said Thursday it is closely monitoring inspections of Boeing's 737 Max jets for possible loose bolts in the plane's rudder control system. Boeing recommended the inspections after a missing nut was discovered by an international operator during routine maintenance. File Photo by Cityswift/Flickr
Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The FAA said Thursday it is closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing's 737 Max aircraft looking for a possible loose bolt issue in the plane's rudder control system.
Boeing has urged operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods controlling rudder movement to look for possible loose hardware, and the FAA said it was in contact with the company and airlines as inspections are underway.
"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 said.
Boeing recommended the inspections after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance on the 737 Max's rudder control linkage.
Boeing also discovered another undelivered aircraft with a loose nut.
The FAA said it will consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.
A spokeswoman for United Airlines, a big 737 Max customer, said the airline isn't expecting any operational impact over the issue.
Boeing and its former CEO agreed in September 2022 to pay more than $200 million to settle claims they "put profits over people" by misleading investors over safety of the 737 Max.
That came after two 737 Max jets crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019 killing hundreds of people.
Ping!..................
“Boeing recommended the inspections after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance on the 737 Max’s rudder control linkage.
Boeing also discovered another undelivered aircraft with a loose nut. “
Unreal. This is just a basic assembly error for the mechanical connection to the ... uh, ... rudder.
It’s all ball bearings now.
So much for “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going...”
Hope it does not drive stock prices down again.
Then it’s a ‘Buying opportunity’...............
DIEversity in the workplace Kills
This is the reason I prefer a low-mileage used vehicle over anything brand new, at least prior to the COVID lockdowns.
Idiocracy, here we come!
Check whether there maintenance personnel who are Muslims, Chinese or from any enemy nations working on the ground crews.
Hey Gordo, check the 7th Fetzer valve. It seems to be stuck.
Probably the humidity!
That funny. What I think it is, is the bypass line.
Boeing has made Nikki Haley rich so why care about safety after hundreds have died in 737MAX crashes?
How about Nikki flying a 737MAX campaign plane?
Six months later they realized that although you "cannot inspect quality into a product", you CAN inspect crap OUT of a product.
QA personnel were hired back and we had tons of OT to catch back up with contractual obligations.
“looking for a possible loose bolt issue in the plane’s rudder control system”
In my experience, “possible loose bolts” means they are they ARE loose until it’s verified thatthey are not.
When it comes to souls being at risk, “possibly”, “hope it’s ok” and “maybe or maybe not” are completely unacceptable.
Fletch is the man!
One of my favorite movies of all time
Too bad Chevy Chase is a raging liberal but we are not surprised
Spent 17 years in a DoD aviation QA department attached to the US Navy at the depot level.
In my 40 years in the workforce QA was absolutely THE most challenging and unappreciated position I ever held bar none.
Add in the fact that the fed gov mechanics for the most part cannot be terminated for malfeasance made it a triple decker stress sandwich. 😏
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.
Something about that plane that just gives me the creeps....
At 35,000ft, loose bolts are mostly unacceptable.
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