After landing, a pilot notices that he forgot to take the rudder gust lock off.

Attributes
ACN	583526
Time
Date	200306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smn.airport
State Reference	ID
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 46 flight time total : 385 flight time type : 53
ASRS Report	583526
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : observer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During preflight I did not notice a rudder wind brace on the rudder. I noticed the rudders didn't seem to have a very wide range but I was able to taxi and maintain coordinated flight at all times. I departed smn and landed mso. When I got out of the plane the fuel guy asked me if something was wrong with my rudder. I looked and saw the control lock. No damage was done to the plane. I reviewed the preflight checklist and removal of rudder block was not an item. This is the first plane I've flown with a block on the rudder but rest assured I will include it in all preflts of unfamiliar planes in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER LNDG, A PLT NOTICES THAT HE FORGOT TO TAKE THE RUDDER GUST LOCK OFF.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT I DID NOT NOTICE A RUDDER WIND BRACE ON THE RUDDER. I NOTICED THE RUDDERS DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A VERY WIDE RANGE BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAXI AND MAINTAIN COORDINATED FLT AT ALL TIMES. I DEPARTED SMN AND LANDED MSO. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE PLANE THE FUEL GUY ASKED ME IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY RUDDER. I LOOKED AND SAW THE CTL LOCK. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE PLANE. I REVIEWED THE PREFLT CHKLIST AND REMOVAL OF RUDDER BLOCK WAS NOT AN ITEM. THIS IS THE FIRST PLANE I'VE FLOWN WITH A BLOCK ON THE RUDDER BUT REST ASSURED I WILL INCLUDE IT IN ALL PREFLTS OF UNFAMILIAR PLANES IN THE FUTURE.

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.