Boeing asks airlines to inspect 737 MAX jets for possible loose bolt in rudder control

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US has said it was closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX jets to look for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system.

The development came after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage of an aircraft.

Boeing discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.

The FAA on Thursday said it would remain in contact with Boeing and the airlines while the inspections were on. The agency asked the airlines to work through their approved safety management systems to identify whether any loose hardware had been detected previously.

In the process, the FAA also said it would consider additional action based on any further discovery of loose or missing hardware.

Meanwhile, under consultation with the FAA, Boeing issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of newer single-aisle airplanes to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware.

US carriers with 737 Max jets in their fleet include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. All four of these carriers told The Associated Press on Friday that they don’t expect operational impacts.

Boeing’s 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide for 20 months after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed a total of 346 people.

Investigations focused on an automated flight-control system that pushed the nose of the plane down based on faulty sensor readings.

Boeing did not tell pilots and airlines about the system until after the first crash.