FAA Fixes Boeing 737s' Frozen Sensors Causing Fake Stall Freakouts
Published Date: 8/18/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737 -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of nuisance stick shaker activation while accelerating to cruise speed at the top of a climb due to frozen angle of airflow (AOA) sensor vanes. This proposed AD would require installing new external case heaters (ECHs) on the left and right AOA sensors, performing repetitive functional tests and applicable corrective actions, and accomplishing applicable concurrent actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Install heaters and do repeated tests
If you operate Boeing Model 737-300, -400, or -500 airplanes, the FAA would require installing new external case heaters (ECHs) on left and right angle of airflow (AOA) sensors, performing repetitive functional tests with corrective actions, and completing specified concurrent actions. The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 133 U.S.-registered airplanes and gives cost estimates: $2,125 per airplane for the installation (13 work-hours at $85/hour = $1,105 labor plus $1,020 parts), $85 per airplane per functional test cycle, and concurrent actions of up to $109,883 per airplane (up to $14,614,439 for the U.S. fleet).
Repairs must be done before further flight
The proposed AD requires that if any crack is found during the required actions, the operator must contact Boeing for repair instructions and do the repair before further flight using an FAA-approved method. The AD also specifies that some concurrent steps labeled Required for Compliance (RC) cannot be deviated from without FAA approval (AMOC).
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