Boeing Asks 737 MAX Operators to Check for Missing Nuts
Joe Cortez December 29, 2023
CNN reports Boeing is asking all 737 MAX operators to check for potentially loose bolts in the rudder system after discovering issues on current aircraft.
One Gone on International Airline Frame, Another Loose Pre-Delivery
The bulletin comes after two reported incidents without any injuries or fatalities. The first was aboard an “unnamed international airline,” where they found a bolt not attached by a nut to a rudder-control linkage mechanism during routine service. The second issue was found in a pre-delivery airframe, where the nut had loosened from the bolt but did not come off completely.
Although the two issues were fixed, Boeing is asking every airline with 737 MAX aircraft in their fleet to check for the loose or missing nut issue. The Chicago-based company alerted the Federal Aviation Administration to the issue on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
According to the FAA, the fix could take up to two hours, and airlines are expected to report their inspection progress to the agency as they complete the inspection. While airlines are expected to check the nuts and bolts on aircraft currently in service, Boeing will check all aircraft leaving the factory before delivery.
The loose bolt issue is the latest engineering problem to plague the 737 MAX since its introduction to service. The next-generation airframe was grounded in 2019 after two fatal accidents were attributed to the MCAS system. It took over a year for the FAA to once again re-certify the 737 MAX for airworthiness, but not without numerous concerns coming to light.
The 737 MAX issue is unrelated to Alaska Airlines’ unexpected grounding of other 737-line aircraft the week after Christmas 2023.
I am pretty sure that is a headline about warm snacks served with my drink in first class. I always thought the nuts came from the airline, not Boeing. Learn new things every day.
Makes me want to seek out CRJ flights instead, yeah it is that bad...
As a United Global Services and heavy frequent traveler, I am finally throwing the towel on all MAX planes. Will be very painful to pick flights and perhaps other carriers/stopovers but my Max days are now 100% over. Not worth the risk with the obvious continued misteps by Boeing.
Agree, MAX has been a faliure, the flying public has quickly lost confidence in it.
I just flew one of these planes on Alaska, and I am now wondering if I want to fly the MAX 9 again. This is a major fault of Boeing. I am looking thru my January interaries now and flagging those I may cancell and go to another airline
All I can say is...this is nuts!