What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft departed lake hood waterway for the purposes of an instructional flight. All preflight checks were completed before takeoff and the flight commenced. Shortly after takeoff, the student pilot flying noticed an significant change in control feel specifically with respect to rudder control just after leveling of from a left turn from the airport. The instructor pilot assumed control of the aircraft and verified the change in rudder and aircraft control. The instructor pilot advised the tower for a return to landing request. The aircraft landed without further incident.
During post flight, it was discovered that the top of the rudder and broken in half still attached to the plane almost at a 90 degree angle. Initial inspector suggests possible metal fatigue.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LAKE HOOD WATERWAY FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ALL PREFLIGHT CHECKS WERE COMPLETED BEFORE TAKEOFF AND THE FLIGHT COMMENCED. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE STUDENT PILOT FLYING NOTICED AN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN CONTROL FEEL SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO RUDDER CONTROL JUST AFTER LEVELING OF FROM A LEFT TURN FROM THE AIRPORT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND VERIFIED THE CHANGE IN RUDDER AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ADVISED THE TOWER FOR A RETURN TO LANDING REQUEST. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
DURING POST FLIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TOP OF THE RUDDER AND BROKEN IN HALF STILL ATTACHED TO THE PLANE ALMOST AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. INITIAL INSPECTOR SUGGESTS POSSIBLE METAL FATIGUE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.