*

NTSB recommends Boeing ( BA ) notify crews about potential rudder

control system jam

*

FAA to review corrective actions based on NTSB

recommendations

*

Collins Aerospace identified production issue affecting

over 353

actuators

(Adds Boeing, RTX, NTSB comments in paragraphs 5, 9-11)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The National

Transportation Safety Board on Thursday issued urgent safety

recommendations about the potential for a jammed rudder control

system on some Boeing 737 airplanes after a February

incident involving a United Airlines flight.

The NTSB is investigating an incident in which the rudder

pedals on a United Boeing 737 MAX 8 were "stuck" in the

neutral position during a landing at Newark. There were no

injuries to the 161 passengers and crew.

United said the rudder control parts at issue were in use in

only nine of its 737 aircraft originally built for other

airlines. United said on Thursday the components were all

removed earlier this year.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it has been

monitoring this situation closely and on Friday "will convene a

corrective action review board based upon the NTSB's interim

recommendations and determine next steps."

The NTSB said there are no 737s in the United States that

are operating with the affected actuators, which were installed

in some 737 MAX and prior-generation 737 NG planes that included

an optional landing system. United had previously been the only

U.S. operator with the components in use, the FAA said.

The NTSB on Thursday recommended Boeing ( BA ) notify flight crews

the rudder control system can jam due to moisture that has

accumulated inside the actuators and frozen and for Boeing ( BA ) to

"determine appropriate flight crew responses besides applying

maximum pedal force" for such situations in flight or during

landing.

It also recommended the FAA determine if some actuators

produced by Collins Aerospace, a unit of RTX, should be

removed from airplanes and to halt use of the planes until

replacement units are installed. It also wants the FAA to notify

international aviation regulators if they decide the components

should be removed.

Collins Aerospace determined a bearing was incorrectly

assembled during production of the actuators and said more than

353 actuators delivered since February 2017 to Boeing ( BA ) were

affected by this condition, the NTSB said.

Boeing ( BA ) said on Thursday it was reviewing the NTSB

recommendations and would ensure flight crews have appropriate

guidance.

The planemaker said in August it informed "affected 737

operators of a potential condition with the rudder rollout

guidance actuator, which is part of an optional autoland system.

The autoland system includes layers of redundancy and we are

working with our supplier to develop additional guidance to

address the potential condition."

RTX said it continued "to work closely with the NTSB and

Boeing ( BA ) on this investigation. We are supporting Boeing ( BA ) and

operators to mitigate operational impacts."