Pilots’ Struggle With Landing Is Tied to Rudder, Officials Say
Pilots had to “wrestle” a United Airlines jetliner to the ground last week after an apparent rudder malfunction during a flight to Chicago, authorities said Tuesday.
Federal investigators said Flight 578 from St. Louis was at 9,000 feet Dec. 13 when the nose of the Boeing 737-300 swung to the right. After disconnecting the autopilot and a rudder control device, the crew struggled to regain control of the plane.
One official said the pilots had to “wrestle” the aircraft to a safe landing at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. After landing, the crew said they heard a bang after the rudder swung to the left and then right.
None of the 93 passengers aboard was hurt.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators are analyzing the plane’s flight data recorder for clues.
Investigators determined that rudder malfunctions were the likely cause of two fatal 737 crashes in 1991 and 1994. Those disasters prompted Boeing to replace certain parts in all 737 rudder systems.
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