Using a synchrotron X-ray microbeam, we analyzed the structure of needlelike defects running parallel to the rubbing direction in virgin homogeneously aligned cells of ferroelectric liquid crystals. It was found that, the local layer of the defect is perpendicular to the substrate plane and the layer normal is tilted from the rubbing direction, which is similar to the model proposed by Shao et al. [Ferroelectrics 121 (1991) 127]. It was also found that the detailed structure depends on the cell thickness.