FAA monitoring 737 MAX aircraft for possible loose bolt

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ‘closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 MAX airplanes to look for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system,’ the agency has confirmed. After consulting with the FAA, the aircraft manufacturer has issued a Multi-Operator Message (MOM), urging operators of the type to inspect what the FAA defines as ‘specific tie rods that control rudder movement for possible loose hardware’. However, Boeing notes that there have been no in-flight incidents caused by this potential issue, and that pilots’ routine pre-flight checks would alert the crew to any instance of a compromised rudder.