Narrative:

During preflight at rudder section noted single strand off hay or similar material protruding from right side of rudder, removed and discontinued preflight in order to escort medical attendant from hangar area to aircraft. Upon return to aircraft, started engines to re-position aircraft from parking apron, to maintenance hangar to request further inspection by mechanic. Upon moving aircraft approximately 20' was stopped by chief pilot and informed of foreign material in rudder assembly. An inspector of the FAA was conducting a base inspection at this time and during that period had noted this material in rudder assembly west/O so stating to any persons involved in the operation of said aircraft. No statements by myself where made at this time and therefore the inspector is investigating the incident further. It appears the inspector perceived my actions to mean I was initiating the conduct of a flight and took action to stop any further progress of my aircraft west/O allowing myself to pursue corrective action. It has always been my understanding that an inspectors duties are to enhance the safety of flight. Under the above mentioned occurrence it appears the inspector was using his knowledge of a particular situation to entrap a pilot for his personal gain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT COMPLAINT THAT HE IS BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGED FEDERAL AVIATION REG VIOLATION ON CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT AT RUDDER SECTION NOTED SINGLE STRAND OFF HAY OR SIMILAR MATERIAL PROTRUDING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF RUDDER, REMOVED AND DISCONTINUED PREFLT IN ORDER TO ESCORT MEDICAL ATTENDANT FROM HANGAR AREA TO ACFT. UPON RETURN TO ACFT, STARTED ENGS TO RE-POS ACFT FROM PARKING APRON, TO MAINT HANGAR TO REQUEST FURTHER INSPECTION BY MECH. UPON MOVING ACFT APPROX 20' WAS STOPPED BY CHIEF PLT AND INFORMED OF FOREIGN MATERIAL IN RUDDER ASSEMBLY. AN INSPECTOR OF THE FAA WAS CONDUCTING A BASE INSPECTION AT THIS TIME AND DURING THAT PERIOD HAD NOTED THIS MATERIAL IN RUDDER ASSEMBLY W/O SO STATING TO ANY PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF SAID ACFT. NO STATEMENTS BY MYSELF WHERE MADE AT THIS TIME AND THEREFORE THE INSPECTOR IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT FURTHER. IT APPEARS THE INSPECTOR PERCEIVED MY ACTIONS TO MEAN I WAS INITIATING THE CONDUCT OF A FLT AND TOOK ACTION TO STOP ANY FURTHER PROGRESS OF MY ACFT W/O ALLOWING MYSELF TO PURSUE CORRECTIVE ACTION. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AN INSPECTORS DUTIES ARE TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF FLT. UNDER THE ABOVE MENTIONED OCCURRENCE IT APPEARS THE INSPECTOR WAS USING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTICULAR SITUATION TO ENTRAP A PLT FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.