On August 9, 2003, a Cessna 650 (registration N122EJ) was involved in an aviation accident near Chesterfield, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A partial failure of the rudder control lock fairlead which jammed the rudder cable during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Citation aircraft experienced a rudder jam just after liftoff. The crew stayed near the departure airport, attempted to free the rudder, and returned for an uneventful landing. Post-incident inspection revealed a failed rudder control locking system fairlead.
Incident Description
Shortly after lifting off, the rudder of a Citation aircraft jammed in the centered position. The flight crew reported no difficulty controlling the airplane in flight. They remained in the vicinity of the departure airport while checking all systems and trying to free the rudder. Unable to resolve the jam, the crew declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport. The landing was uneventful, and the rudder freed itself as the airplane touched down.
Post-Inspection Findings
Following the incident, an inspection of the aircraft revealed that a rudder control locking system fairlead had come out of its receptacle. One half of the fairlead was located and was found separated into three pieces. The other half of the fairlead was not found.