We're having rudder issues and just lost our front windshield! Declaring an emergency!

On November 17, 2023, about 2030 mountain daylight time, a Beechcraft 95 Travel Air N2024C was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Yuma, Arizona. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The flight instructor reported that, shortly after departing from the airport, the pilot receiving instruction noticed a vibration in the rudder trim and that the airplane was beginning to oscillate. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and elected to return to the airport. During the return to the airport, the oscillations intensified, which caused the front windshield to separate from the airplane. The flight instructor advised the pilot receiving instruction to declare an emergency as he landed the airplane without further incident.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the rudder trim tab rod was fracture separated near the trim tab attachment point and the forward windshield had separated which resulted in substantial damage. The wreckage was recovered for further examination.

LINKS:
liveatc.net
flightaware.com
aaviation-safety.net (Aviation Safety Network)