CRJ700 captain reports jammed rudder pedals during the takeoff roll with an ensuing low speed reject...

Attributes
ACN	736444
Time
Date	200704
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt.airport
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	736444
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

While taking off from clt runway 18L and at about 50-60 KTS; the left rudder jammed and I rejected the takeoff. We made a full stop prior to crossing runway 23. We then cleared the runways and returned to the ramp to troubleshoot the problem. After we were clear of the runway I saw a small tissue box under the rudder pedal. This box apparently was already forward of the rudder pedals out of sight when we took over the aircraft. When takeoff power was applied the tissue box slid back under my foot and rudder pedals causing the rudder to jam. Directional control was difficult but maintained during the rejected takeoff maneuver. This was our first flight in this aircraft for the trip. Make sure all crews ensure the floor around the pilot seats are clear and that no foreign objects can slide forward on landing; jamming the rudders.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ700 CAPTAIN REPORTS JAMMED RUDDER PEDALS DURING THE TKOF ROLL WITH AN ENSUING LOW SPEED REJECT.

Narrative: WHILE TAKING OFF FROM CLT RWY 18L AND AT ABOUT 50-60 KTS; THE L RUDDER JAMMED AND I REJECTED THE TKOF. WE MADE A FULL STOP PRIOR TO XING RWY 23. WE THEN CLRED THE RWYS AND RETURNED TO THE RAMP TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROB. AFTER WE WERE CLR OF THE RWY I SAW A SMALL TISSUE BOX UNDER THE RUDDER PEDAL. THIS BOX APPARENTLY WAS ALREADY FORWARD OF THE RUDDER PEDALS OUT OF SIGHT WHEN WE TOOK OVER THE ACFT. WHEN TKOF PWR WAS APPLIED THE TISSUE BOX SLID BACK UNDER MY FOOT AND RUDDER PEDALS CAUSING THE RUDDER TO JAM. DIRECTIONAL CTL WAS DIFFICULT BUT MAINTAINED DURING THE REJECTED TKOF MANEUVER. THIS WAS OUR FIRST FLT IN THIS ACFT FOR THE TRIP. MAKE SURE ALL CREWS ENSURE THE FLOOR AROUND THE PLT SEATS ARE CLR AND THAT NO FOREIGN OBJECTS CAN SLIDE FORWARD ON LNDG; JAMMING THE RUDDERS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.