Emergency declared with partial loss of aircraft control. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	216810
Time
Date	199207
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 artcc : eggx
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff landing other other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	216810
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

The flight blocked out on time, XA55L, and proceeded normally through all checklists including the before takeoff checklist in which the flight controls, ailerons, elevators and rudder were verified unlocked and free and the red 'control' light was extinguished. Takeoff was normal until rotation (V1) where upon the plane headed to the left and right rudder pressure would not move the rudder. I told the captain that we had a problem and I suspected the rudder was locked. The red 'control' light was still out and stayed out until about 300 ft AGL (20-30 seconds). We worked on the problem momentarily without success. The captain took control of the aircraft and called for the emergency checklist to see if there was a procedure for this situation, but there was not. We notified ATC, declared an emergency, requested priority and emergency equipment and wide turns back to the airport. The captain lined up on final using ailerons and differential power. The flight attendant was notified to prepare the cabin for an emergency landing. On final at about 200 ft AGL the red 'control' light went out and rudder control was restored by itself. The rest of the approach and landing proceeded without further incident. Later that day, maintenance informed us that the linear actuator for the rudder had failed and had caused the rudder to lock. My only suggestion would possibly be to inspect this area and check the locking mechanism and its backup.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED WITH PARTIAL LOSS OF ACFT CTL. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: THE FLT BLOCKED OUT ON TIME, XA55L, AND PROCEEDED NORMALLY THROUGH ALL CHKLISTS INCLUDING THE BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST IN WHICH THE FLT CTLS, AILERONS, ELEVATORS AND RUDDER WERE VERIFIED UNLOCKED AND FREE AND THE RED 'CTL' LIGHT WAS EXTINGUISHED. TKOF WAS NORMAL UNTIL ROTATION (V1) WHERE UPON THE PLANE HEADED TO THE L AND R RUDDER PRESSURE WOULD NOT MOVE THE RUDDER. I TOLD THE CAPT THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM AND I SUSPECTED THE RUDDER WAS LOCKED. THE RED 'CTL' LIGHT WAS STILL OUT AND STAYED OUT UNTIL ABOUT 300 FT AGL (20-30 SECONDS). WE WORKED ON THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CAPT TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT AND CALLED FOR THE EMER CHKLIST TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROC FOR THIS SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS NOT. WE NOTIFIED ATC, DECLARED AN EMER, REQUESTED PRIORITY AND EMER EQUIP AND WIDE TURNS BACK TO THE ARPT. THE CAPT LINED UP ON FINAL USING AILERONS AND DIFFERENTIAL PWR. THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS NOTIFIED TO PREPARE THE CABIN FOR AN EMER LNDG. ON FINAL AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL THE RED 'CTL' LIGHT WENT OUT AND RUDDER CTL WAS RESTORED BY ITSELF. THE REST OF THE APCH AND LNDG PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. LATER THAT DAY, MAINT INFORMED US THAT THE LINEAR ACTUATOR FOR THE RUDDER HAD FAILED AND HAD CAUSED THE RUDDER TO LOCK. MY ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD POSSIBLY BE TO INSPECT THIS AREA AND CHK THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND ITS BACKUP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.