AN ATX PLT FLEW AN ACFT WITH A KNOWN MAINT DEFICIENCY.

Narrative

RUDDER BOOST SYS HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS RPTED TO MAINT (NO ACTION TAKEN). SUBSEQUENT TRIP SCHEDULE PRESSURES WERE ALLOWED TO COUNTERMAND THE AUTH OF COMPANY COMMAND PLT -- THE TRIPS WERE FLOWN. ACFT WAS TAKEN TO AUTH MAINT BASE ON SATURDAY. REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. COMMAND PLT AGAIN CAPITULATED TO COMPANY PRESSURES TO CONTINUE WITH SCHEDULED TRIPS. EVALUATION: I AM A TYPE-RATED COMMAND QUALIFIED PLT IN THIS ACFT ON PART-TIME CONTRACT WITH THIS CHARTER COMPANY. I FAILED TO EXERCISE MY JUDGEMENT AND AUTH TO PROPERLY GND THIS ACFT UNTIL THE SYS WAS REPAIRED. AT THIS DATE; REPAIRS HAVE BEEN EFFECTED. LESSON: EVEN IF 'SECOND IN COMMAND;' DO NOT COMPROMISE OR CAPITULATE TO OUTSIDE PRESSURES. IT MAY BE BETTER TO BE UNEMPLOYED THAN DEAD. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THE RPTR NO LONGER WORKS FOR THE CHARTER OUTFIT THAT LEASED THE MDT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER KNEW THAT THE COMPANY WAS FLYING THE ACFT WITH THE RUDDER BOOST OUT. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT; THERE WAS NO MEL PUBLISHED BY THE COMPANY. NOW THERE IS; AND ACFT OP WITH THE RUDDER BOOST MALFUNCTION IS NOT ALLOWED BY THE MEL.