Originally Posted by
SLF3
Shouldn’t this be a time bound AD? The NTSB are clear this is a safety issue and the Boeing temporary fix doesn’t inspire confidence. Is there a shortage of replacement units and a reluctance to ground anffected aircraft pending delivery of them?
The experts on here sound more relaxed about this than I would expect them to be, and I’d like to understand why. Is it ‘only’ an issue on the ground after landing?
As the NTSB report notes, the airplanes can fly safely without the rudder rollout guidance actuator installed. And Boeing provided service instructions to United on how to remove the actuators (only after United discovered their existence on its own airplanes).
But Boeing hasn’t instructed any operator to do so, and the FAA has not required it. Yet.
A lack of replacement actuators isn’t what’s keeping the FAA from requiring their removal. The FAA seems to have the impression that all of these defective actuators are no longer in service. Based on what the NTSB report says, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.