Cessna 150
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 5700; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
After flying with a student; we secured the airplane including chocks; tie-downs; cockpit; and control locks. I had forgotten that my son wanted me to take him and his 22-month old son for an airplane ride. Right after securing the airplane; they arrived at the FBO. After taking care of the student's post flight procedures; I brought my son and grandson to the airplane. Having just flown the airplane; I did not do a new preflight inspection; but asked my son; who had also learned to fly in this airplane to untie the tie-downs; etc.The little guy was somewhat apprehensive about the whole affair; and was scared when the control yoke moved so quickly during the 'flight controls; free and correct' sequence. This may have diverted my attention causing me to miss the normal check of the rudder right and left. After calling Ground Control; we taxied to the runway.The wind was about 4 or 5 knots; pretty well aligned with the runway. After takeoff the airplane climbed straight ahead just as one would normally expect. I found myself doing a mental check-up if everything had been taken care off. I asked my son if he had removed the rudder lock. He indicated he didn't know what I was referring to. When he had learned to fly; we had not installed this home-made rudder lock as part of our normal routine. He looked back at the vertical fin; and could see the wooden rudder lock was still in place. Of course I wondered how serious a control problem this would be; but started a gentle climbing right turn. Everything continued to feel almost normal; the ball stayed centered; etc. We entered a right downwind for the runway. I wondered how much control would be affected at lower power settings; but continued the normal pattern; and landed safely right on the centerline without any control problems. After having given thousands of hours of flight instruction; always emphasizing the importance of a through preflight inspection; the proper use of checklists; and not trusting crucial elements to others; I had actually taken off with a rudder lock installed! Ironically; there was nothing about the flight control characteristics that alerted me to the problem. This could be because the steerable nose wheel still works while the rudder is immobilized; and there was a little movement of the rudder underneath the installed boards on each side of the vertical fin and rudder. Still; this could have been a very serious problem if there had been a strong cross wind to contend with. What did I learn? Always recheck the most crucial items of the preflight inspection. It's okay to use a trained helper for some things; but 'Trust but verify!' I should have done at least a 'walk-around' myself. Even under excellent conditions be sure to cover every item of the checklist thoroughly. Corrective action: I am installing a large 'remove before flight' streamer to the rudder lock.
Excited to be giving his son and infant grandson the baby's first plane ride the CFI rated pilot of a C150 failed to do a complete preflight of the aircraft in which he had just conducted a training flight. After takeoff he realized the rudder gust lock was still installed. Good fortune prevailed as the wind was right down the runway and a safe landing resulted.