First plane lands at London’s Heathrow since a fire cut power to Europe’s busiest airport

The FAA says the rudder system design in the Airbus A300-600 and the Airbus 320 is susceptible to potentially hazardous rudder pedal inputs at higher airspeeds. The system is designed to limit available rudder pedal deflection as airspeed decreases, so at higher speeds, the pedal must be manipulated with greater sensitivity.

The plane’s vertical stabilizer can separate due to excessive input because of the speed differential limits of rudder pedal deflection.

The findings may affect several accident cases where the Airbus rudder separated, causing catastrophic conditions.