Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-21333
FAA Safety Directive Requiring Boeing 737 Horizontal Stabilizer Freeplay Inspections
Buyer
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Posted
October 19, 2026
Identifier
2026-21333
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a safety directive for specified Boeing 737 aircraft, not a request for bids or products. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); no sub-agency or office is identified. - OEM: Boeing Company; the directive references Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 737-55A1104 RB. - Other named organizations: Aviation Partners Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Canadian North, and United Airlines, mentioned in connection with the directive and comments; none is identified as a supplier for this action. - Affected aircraft: Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series; an estimated 1,987 U.S.-registered airplanes are affected. - Required compliance work: Measure freeplay in the left and right horizontal stabilizer pivot hinges and the jackscrew, then complete applicable follow-on inspections, repeat measurements, and repairs or replacement of worn parts as required by Boeing bulletin 737-55A1104 RB. - Purpose and notable requirement: Excessive freeplay may cause flutter and loss of aircraft control. The estimated initial inspection cost is $510 per airplane; this is a regulatory cost estimate, not a contract value. - No products or services are being solicited, and no contract performance period or contract value is stated.
Description
The FAA issued a final rule adopting an airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. The directive requires measuring horizontal stabilizer pivot hinge and jackscrew freeplay, along with applicable on-condition actions such as repeat measurements and repair or replacement of worn parts. It addresses excessive horizontal stabilizer freeplay reported in connection with pitch oscillation events, which could lead to flutter and loss of airplane control. The rule is effective November 23, 2026.