FAA orders tail plane inspection for 1,050 Boeings

The Federal Aviation Administration suspects that tail planes on Boeing 737 jets could be faulty and ordered inspections on 1,050 on Monday.

If the tail plane is faulty, pilots could lose control of the plane.

Reuters reported that the directive requires airlines to replace tail plane fixing pins with new and improved parts. The concern is the protective surface coating was not properly applied.

“We are issuing this [airworthiness directive] to prevent premature failure of the attach pins, which could cause reduced structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer to fuselage attachment, resulting in loss of control of the airplane,” the FAA said in the Reuters report.

The FAA said the inspection came by way of “reports of an incorrect procedure used to apply the wear and corrosion protective surface coating to attach pins of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar,” Reuters reported.

The inspection and part replacement could cost $9,627 per plane — up to $10.1 million for the full fleet, Reuters reported.