FAA Directive Sets Stabilizer Inspections for Boeing 737 NG Aircraft

The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive requiring inspections of stabilizer mechanisms on certain Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, AeroTime reported. The directive covers the 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900 and -900ER, but not the 737 MAX.

Key details

According to AeroTime: - The FAA published the directive on October 19, 2026, with an effective date of November 23, 2026. - The required checks measure movement in stabilizer pivot hinges and the jackscrew. Findings may require further inspection, repair or component replacement. - The FAA estimates the initial measurement will take six work-hours per aircraft. At an assumed labor rate of $85 per hour, AeroTime reported an estimated cost of $510 per aircraft, or about $1 million across the affected US fleet, excluding additional work.

The FAA estimates that 1,987 US-registered Boeing 737 NG aircraft fall under the directive, according to AeroTime.

Why it matters

The directive addresses reports of pitch oscillations linked to excess movement in the horizontal stabilizer mechanism. AeroTime reported that the FAA warned an uncorrected condition could lead to flutter and potentially loss of control. The inspection requirement gives operators a defined process for checking the mechanism and responding to measurement results.

What happens next

Operators must complete inspections according to the directive’s compliance schedule. AeroTime reported that the final rule followed a proposed rule published in January 2026 and uses inspection procedures from a Boeing bulletin dated June 12, 2025. No further timeline was announced.