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A socata TBM700 rudder trim ran away causing severe flight control problems. The pilot had heading and altitude deviations.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 800529 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200808 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 10000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | TBM 700 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : vacating altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 1804 flight time type : 670 |
| ASRS Report | 800529 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
The center controller instructed me to descend to 10000 ft. At this time we were 80 NM from ZZZ VOR; I proceeded to descend but at approximately XA30Z; 40 NM from ZZZ VOR I adjusted the rudder trim. The trim switch responded normal and returned to its neutral position but the rudder trim motor continued running; this caused the loss of the assigned heading. The deviation was severe towards the right (south). I disconnected the autoplt and using pedals and left aileron; and I reduced power at the same time. I notified the controller about the problem and asked for time to try to solve the problem and to take corrective actions. I disconnected the breakers relative to the autoplt and trims; while at the same time trying to control and fly the plane to return to the correct assigned heading. At the moment that my altitude was 8900 ft the controller asked me if I wanted to declare an emergency. I told him that not at that time; that I was trying to regain control of the rudder trim resetting the circuit breakers. The controller indicated that I needed to get back to 9200 ft and I had the option to land in ZZZ or ZZZ1. I indicated that I wanted to land at runway xx in ZZZ because of its size and emergency equipment in case it was needed. I could not get back to the indicated altitude. I was only able to climb back to 9100 ft; because it was very difficult to control the plane and try to resolve the problem with the rudder trim. The controller indicated that I should declare an emergency; and that is what I did. 2 mins after declaring the emergency and at approximately 20 NM west of ZZZ airport I was able to get the trim switch unstuck and get full control of the rudder. I advised the controller that I had solved the problem and canceled the emergency. The controller verified that I was canceling the emergency and told me to contact ZZZ approach. The controller at ZZZ gave me a clear to visual approach runway xx; and I landed without any problems.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A SOCATA TBM700 RUDDER TRIM RAN AWAY CAUSING SEVERE FLT CONTROL PROBLEMS. THE PILOT HAD HEADING AND ALT DEVIATIONS.
Narrative: THE CTR CTLR INSTRUCTED ME TO DSND TO 10000 FT. AT THIS TIME WE WERE 80 NM FROM ZZZ VOR; I PROCEEDED TO DSND BUT AT APPROX XA30Z; 40 NM FROM ZZZ VOR I ADJUSTED THE RUDDER TRIM. THE TRIM SWITCH RESPONDED NORMAL AND RETURNED TO ITS NEUTRAL POS BUT THE RUDDER TRIM MOTOR CONTINUED RUNNING; THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE ASSIGNED HDG. THE DEV WAS SEVERE TOWARDS THE R (S). I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND USING PEDALS AND L AILERON; AND I REDUCED PWR AT THE SAME TIME. I NOTIFIED THE CTLR ABOUT THE PROB AND ASKED FOR TIME TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROB AND TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. I DISCONNECTED THE BREAKERS RELATIVE TO THE AUTOPLT AND TRIMS; WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO CTL AND FLY THE PLANE TO RETURN TO THE CORRECT ASSIGNED HDG. AT THE MOMENT THAT MY ALT WAS 8900 FT THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER. I TOLD HIM THAT NOT AT THAT TIME; THAT I WAS TRYING TO REGAIN CTL OF THE RUDDER TRIM RESETTING THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE CTLR INDICATED THAT I NEEDED TO GET BACK TO 9200 FT AND I HAD THE OPTION TO LAND IN ZZZ OR ZZZ1. I INDICATED THAT I WANTED TO LAND AT RWY XX IN ZZZ BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE AND EMER EQUIP IN CASE IT WAS NEEDED. I COULD NOT GET BACK TO THE INDICATED ALT. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO CLB BACK TO 9100 FT; BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CTL THE PLANE AND TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROB WITH THE RUDDER TRIM. THE CTLR INDICATED THAT I SHOULD DECLARE AN EMER; AND THAT IS WHAT I DID. 2 MINS AFTER DECLARING THE EMER AND AT APPROX 20 NM W OF ZZZ ARPT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRIM SWITCH UNSTUCK AND GET FULL CTL OF THE RUDDER. I ADVISED THE CTLR THAT I HAD SOLVED THE PROB AND CANCELED THE EMER. THE CTLR VERIFIED THAT I WAS CANCELING THE EMER AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT ZZZ APCH. THE CTLR AT ZZZ GAVE ME A CLR TO VISUAL APCH RWY XX; AND I LANDED WITHOUT ANY PROBS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.