NASA · Aviation Safety Reporting System
EMB190 Captain reported uncommanded rudder deflection in cruise flight resulting in a diversion.
What is ASRS?
The Aviation Safety Reporting System is NASA's voluntary, confidential, non- punitive incident-reporting system, established 1976. Pilots, controllers, dispatchers, and maintenance technicians file reports describing safety- relevant events. NASA de-identifies every report before adding it to the public database. Reports are not investigated by NASA, the FAA, or the NTSB — they represent the reporter's perspective.
Pilot narrative
Verbatim from the de-identified NASA record. First-person account by the
reporter. NASA strips identifying details (names, company, specific time);
anonymization placeholders are ZZZ,
X, Y.
While at FL300 we experienced multiple uncommanded rudder deflections. The first occurred over a waypoint and was very subtle. We were fortunate because due to the first event I maintained positive contact with the flight controls. The second event was more violent and resulted in an undesired aircraft state. By referencing the turn and slip coordinator and our own senses, we knew the aircraft was "cross controlled". I pressed and held the quick disconnect button and took control of the aircraft. We immediately [requested priority handling] and requested a diversion to ZZZ. Unfortunately there was no EICAS [Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System] messages to provide an appropriate course of action. We realized it was a rudder issue so I felt it was wise to slow the aircraft to 250 knots and minimize bank angles to 10 degrees or less while turning the aircraft. There was no apparent incorrect rudder trim and realized that the problem was due to uncommanded rudder deflections. While being vectored for the approach, I transferred controls to the First Officer and referenced the QRC and QRH for any guidance. We found that there was no action to be taken and we elected to land with flaps full. A successful approach and landing was made resulting in no damage to the aircraft or injuries. Upon landing we received a Flight Control No Dispatch EICAS message.
NASA classification — Anomalies
- Aircraft Equipment Problem
NASA classification — Assessments
- Contributing Factors / Situations
- Aircraft
- Primary Problem
- Aircraft
ASRS reports are voluntarily submitted, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective. The presence of reports on a topic cannot be used to infer prevalence in the National Airspace System. The authoritative source is the NASA ASRS Database Online at asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗.