737 owners have 6 years to install rudder control

An AD issued last month requires the installation of a new rudder-control system on all U.S.-registered Boeing 737s before Nov. 12, 2008. An October 8 directive (AD 2002-20-07) stems from the investigation into two fatal accidents and a reported rudder event attributed, in part, to an uncommanded rudder hardover, rudder reversal or jammed rudder. Parts are expected to cost Boeing about $140,000 per aircraft. The new hardware will start appearing on production 737s in January, and then be available for retrofit on BBJs and other next-generation 737s next spring.