Narrative:

My first officer and I were on a part 135 charter flight in a beechjet 400A. The first officer was flying the leg from the right seat. We completed all our preflight checklists. We tested the autopilot; confirmed autopilot control was transferred to his side. We noted the yaw trim needle deflected to the left; and discussed it; but didn't move the trim; since it was a satisfactory setting from the previous flight. We briefed the departure and noted the speed restriction and turn required by the SID. Both of us bugged 190 on our speed tapes. We took off and at 400 ft AGL we retracted flaps; began after takeoff checks. Shortly thereafter; the first officer engaged the autopilot. At 800 ft MSL; the first officer bugged the heading for 320 degrees right turn as per the SID. The aircraft was not turning properly. The first officer disengaged the autopilot and attempted to reset it. I noted his IAS was increasing and told him to watch his speed. We were talking to departure control by then. TRACON noted our apparent high speed. I responded to them and they said something to the effect of 'looks like you are turning at 2 degrees.' I responded that we had a 25 degree bank angle in the turn. They told us to then maintain 2;000 ft (SID calls for a 3;000 ft initial altitude). The first officer was hand flying by this time. When we rolled out on the 320 degree heading; the first officer noticed we were out of trim to the left. I also notice the autopilot control had switched back to the lhs I re-trimmed the aircraft and switched autopilot back to the rhs. At no time prior to this had we touched either the yaw trim or autopilot transfer switches. TRACON told us they might have to submit a pilot deviation on our actions. We continued the flight to our destination. Once on the ground; we immediately contacted TRACON by phone for more information. Their quality assurance section said a pilot deviation report had been submitted for high speed and slow turn rate on the departure. We learned later; another crew aborted a trip; in this aircraft because of a rudder trim failure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE400 flight crew deviated from the departure procedure track and speed because of a rudder trim failure.

Narrative: My First Officer and I were on a Part 135 charter flight in a Beechjet 400A. The First Officer was flying the leg from the right seat. We completed all our preflight checklists. We tested the autopilot; confirmed autopilot control was transferred to his side. We noted the yaw trim needle deflected to the left; and discussed it; but didn't move the trim; since it was a satisfactory setting from the previous flight. We briefed the departure and noted the speed restriction and turn required by the SID. Both of us bugged 190 on our speed tapes. We took off and at 400 FT AGL we retracted flaps; began after takeoff checks. Shortly thereafter; the First Officer engaged the autopilot. At 800 FT MSL; the First Officer bugged the heading for 320 degrees right turn as per the SID. The aircraft was not turning properly. The First Officer disengaged the autopilot and attempted to reset it. I noted his IAS was increasing and told him to watch his speed. We were talking to Departure Control by then. TRACON noted our apparent high speed. I responded to them and they said something to the effect of 'looks like you are turning at 2 degrees.' I responded that we had a 25 degree bank angle in the turn. They told us to then maintain 2;000 FT (SID calls for a 3;000 FT initial altitude). The First Officer was hand flying by this time. When we rolled out on the 320 degree heading; the First Officer noticed we were out of trim to the left. I also notice the autopilot control had switched back to the LHS I re-trimmed the aircraft and switched autopilot back to the RHS. At no time prior to this had we touched either the yaw trim or autopilot transfer switches. TRACON told us they might have to submit a pilot deviation on our actions. We continued the flight to our destination. Once on the ground; we immediately contacted TRACON by phone for more information. Their Quality Assurance section said a pilot deviation report had been submitted for high speed and slow turn rate on the departure. We learned later; another crew aborted a trip; in this aircraft because of a rudder trim failure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.