Narrative:

At takeoff we had a no land three upper EICAS message. Since we were going to a us domestic airport that was no problem. No other indications of any cause. After level off; we were busy getting oceanic clearance; weather for altitudes; etc; when we got a status message of flight control systems. Looking up in the QRH; we learned that it meant we were below dispatch minimums. While still proceeding west and accomplishing all the requirements to enter an oceanic leg; I called dispatch on satcom and got a patch to maintenance. Was informed that our upper rudder actuator had failed. I wanted to know if one actuator could provide full control in case of an engine failure. (I know there are 3; but now we only have 2 and I want the worst case scenario.) I never got that assurance. I already have 2 hours of oceanic single engine 777 time; so I was very leery about accepting an aircraft that couldn't be dispatched from within the us. I told dispatch that we were returning to our departure airport. We had not passed our oceanic entry point. I called the purser to bring up the relief officer; did a flight attendant alert to tell as many flight attendants as possible about the air interrupt before making a PA. We declared an emergency with ATC; executed a 180; and descended to FL310 where we commenced fuel dumping. Dumped about 90;000 pounds to get at maximum landing weight. Flight proceeded fairly smoothly from there. Was asked if this was a pan or mayday event; and said pan. First officer only has 100 hours in type and even though it was his leg; he thought it wise for me to make the landing; which I did. Landed below maximum landing weight in a sink rate of about 200 FPM. Plane was taken out of service.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B777's EICAS alerted FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS while at cruise on an oceanic fight. Maintenance stated that one of three rudder actuators had failed. The aircraft returned to its departure point because single engine rudder control was questionable.

Narrative: At takeoff we had a NO LAND THREE upper EICAS MSG. Since we were going to a US domestic airport that was no problem. No other indications of any cause. After level off; we were busy getting Oceanic clearance; weather for altitudes; etc; when we got a status message of FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS. Looking up in the QRH; we learned that it meant we were below dispatch minimums. While still proceeding West and accomplishing all the requirements to enter an Oceanic leg; I called Dispatch on SATCOM and got a patch to Maintenance. Was informed that our upper rudder actuator had failed. I wanted to know if one actuator could provide full control in case of an engine failure. (I know there are 3; but now we only have 2 and I want the worst case scenario.) I never got that assurance. I already have 2 hours of Oceanic single engine 777 time; so I was very leery about accepting an aircraft that couldn't be dispatched from within the US. I told Dispatch that we were returning to our departure airport. We had not passed our Oceanic entry point. I called the purser to bring up the Relief Officer; did a Flight Attendant alert to tell as many Flight Attendants as possible about the air interrupt before making a PA. We declared an emergency with ATC; executed a 180; and descended to FL310 where we commenced fuel dumping. Dumped about 90;000 LBS to get at maximum landing weight. Flight proceeded fairly smoothly from there. Was asked if this was a Pan or Mayday event; and said Pan. First Officer only has 100 hours in type and even though it was his leg; he thought it wise for me to make the landing; which I did. Landed below maximum landing weight in a sink rate of about 200 FPM. Plane was taken out of service.

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.