If the yaw damper fails in flight and cannot be re-engaged, the flight may be continued below 28,000 feet.

• A. Be continued below 28,000 feet
• B. Must divert immediately
• C. Requires immediate landing
• D. Be continued above 30,000 feet

Answer: (A)

Yaw dampers provide automatic rudder input to damp out yawing oscillations and stabilize the aircraft in flight. When the yaw damper fails and can’t be re-engaged, the airplane loses this automatic damping, so it becomes more susceptible to Dutch roll and lateral instability, especially at higher speeds and altitudes where the damping effects are reduced and coupling between axes changes with air density and Mach. The published limitation allows you to continue flying if you stay below a practical altitude where manual control and the aircraft’s remaining stability are still adequate. That’s why continuing the flight below 28,000 feet is permitted—the aircraft can be flown safely with the yaw damper out of operation at lower altitudes, but not above that; above 28,000 feet the stability margins are less favorable without the yaw damper. The other options imply more urgent action than the limitation allows: you don’t have to divert immediately or land right away, and continuing above 30,000 feet is not authorized by this guidance.