EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
During takeoff; after engaging the Yaw Damper (YD); the YD failed and shortly after we got Rudder System (1) and (2) inoperative (INOP) message on the EICAS. We ran through the Checklist and declared an emergency; we returned to the airport and landed. Our training worked and we landed safely. The crew coordination and communication worked very well.
Reporter stated he is new to the aircraft; but after the Yaw Damper failed and the Rudder Systems (1) and (2) 'INOP' EICAS message appeared; the rudder pedals were stiff; harder to input. The pedals did not necessarily feel like they were jammed; just harder to input. The Captain; who has been flying the EMB-145 for some time; noted their event was the first time he (the Captain) had experienced a Yaw Damper fail with Rudder Systems-1 and System-2 becoming inoperative. He did not want to apply too much pressure to the pedals; especially with the loss of the Rudder Flight Control System; because he was unsure what to expect.Reporter stated they were so busy with setting up for the emergency return to field; which was nearby; that they did not attempt to recycle/reset the System-1 Rudder; which is a procedure in their QRH book to try and re-establish hydraulics to the System-1 Rudder actuator. Their aircraft was an older EMB-145. He has not heard from their Maintenance group what the fix was and did not know if any of the components were 'life limited' parts.
A First Officer reports about a Yaw Damper that failed shortly after takeoff; followed by a Rudder System-1 and Rudder System-2 'INOP' EICAS message on their EMB-145 aircraft. Flight crew declared an emergency due to loss of Rudder Flight Control System and returned to departure airport.