FAA proposes directive over 737 Max elevator bearing defect
The FAA has issued a proposed airworthiness directive covering a manufacturing problem with elevator bearings on some Boeing 737 Max jets, a defect the agency says could lead to cracking and premature failure of parts in the elevator control system.
Boeing 737 (all variants)Boeing 737 (all variants)
The Federal Aviation Administration has moved to address a manufacturing defect affecting elevator bearings fitted to certain Boeing 737 Max aircraft, issuing a proposed airworthiness directive that would cover 95 US-registered examples.
According to the agency, bearings within the jets' elevator bus assembly may have been installed incorrectly on the production line, without the correct sealant being applied. The FAA warns the condition could cause cracking in the bearings and their housings, and eventually lead to premature failure of the assembly's crank arms.
The elevator bus assembly forms part of the 737 Max's elevator control system. The proposed directive would apply to Max 8s, Max 8-200s and Max 9s on the US register. US carriers fly roughly 870 of the type in total, according to fleet-data provider Cirium.
Boeing has already taken steps on the same issue. In December 2025 the manufacturer issued an Alert Requirements Bulletin setting out the checks its operators should carry out, covering inspection of the bearings and housings for cracks and for the presence of sealant.
Sources
- flightglobal.comFAA targets Boeing 737 Max elevator bearing issue