Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 1060; Flight Crew Type 200
Communication Breakdown; Other / Unknown; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Human Factors
When taxing after making an aerial survey fuel stop; I experienced complete loss of rudder control. I glanced down at the rudder pedals and it appears that one has broken and is jammed. I texted a picture of the rudder pedal & mechanical failure to my boss who is an A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) with IA (Inspection Authorization). He insisted that I must remove the rudder pedal/cotter pins to help him determine what is mechanically wrong. He insisted that this is legal since he's 'supervising' me and told me I can simply remove the rudder and fly the aircraft from the right seat back to my home airport. I told him I don't want to fly the aircraft and would prefer if he sent another aerial survey pilot or taxi to pick me up. He then insisted that I should try to remove the cotter pins while I wait for a taxi; and I proceeded with removing one. I took a break and consulted with other pilots who informed me that he physically has to be present for it to be legal for me to work on the aircraft; and that it is obviously not airworthy. I fortunately met another pilot at the airport who told me they would fly me back to my home airport where my car was and I gratefully accepted their invitation. After further research; I determined that this incident is required by the operator to be reported to the NTSB immediately since loss of flight controls was involved. I'm certain that my boss never reported this incident. In addition; I came to the conclusion that I could have unintentionally violated FARs by removing one of the rudders cotter pins.
C150 pilot reported a rudder pedal jammed during taxi; resulting in a complete loss of rudder control.