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Md-80 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after experiencing a rudder flight control anomaly.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1501968 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201712 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Rudder Control System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Not Flying |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
After takeoff on climb out aircraft seemed to be in a slight slip/ out of trim not too unusual for this fleet; I was hand flying with use of flight director in: EPR lim; heading sel; altitude set for 15000; and IAS 250 knots. As we passed through 10;000 feet I inputted rudder trim [and] we heard/felt a pop as if something broke. The aircraft then began rolling left and right due to rudder yaw - it was as if we were in a dutch roll scenario. I immediately slowed the ascent rate. We then requested a return to [departure airport]. Notified ATC of our predicament; started a slow descent toward [departure airport]. All control inputs after this point were small; smooth and measured in an attempt to gather information as to what we may anticipate the aircraft state may be in the future as we prepared for approach and landing. When aircraft was slowed and configured for approach and landing the aircraft flight controls seemed to become more effective. A visual approach and landing was completed in normal fashion. Weather was VFR; winds at 210/13kts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MD-80 flight crew reported returning to departure airport after experiencing a rudder flight control anomaly.
Narrative: After takeoff on climb out aircraft seemed to be in a slight slip/ out of trim not too unusual for this fleet; I was hand flying with use of Flight Director in: EPR LIM; HDG SEL; ALT set for 15000; and IAS 250 knots. As we passed through 10;000 feet I inputted rudder trim [and] we heard/felt a pop as if something broke. The aircraft then began rolling left and right due to rudder yaw - it was as if we were in a Dutch roll scenario. I immediately slowed the ascent rate. We then requested a return to [departure airport]. Notified ATC of our predicament; started a slow descent toward [departure airport]. All control inputs after this point were small; smooth and measured in an attempt to gather information as to what we may anticipate the aircraft state may be in the future as we prepared for approach and landing. When aircraft was slowed and configured for approach and landing the aircraft flight controls seemed to become more effective. A visual approach and landing was completed in normal fashion. Weather was VFR; winds at 210/13kts.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.