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Captain reports their embraer aircraft started to pitch up and down 300-600 FPM. Autopilot suddenly disengaged and crew realized that both control yokes were locked-up with no elevator response. Gust lock engagement was suspected; so the captain pulled elevator disconnect handle and first officer's side then had immediate right elevator control.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1082016 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201304 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Embraer Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Gust Lock |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
Cruising at FL310 with autopilot engaged; the aircraft started to pitch up and down 300-600 ft/minute. We thought it was caused by the weather below us. All of a sudden the autopilot disengaged; I grabbed the yoke to stabilize the aircraft; but found it hard to control the pitch and could only stabilize the aircraft by using the pitch trim. Asked the first officer to fly; he confirmed my findings. I then pulled the elevator disconnect lever; made no difference on my side; but the first officer had immediate control. Ran the QRH; told center our problem and that we would have to slow to 200 KTS as per QRH. He handed us off to approach; told them our problem and declared an emergency. Landed with no problems and went to the gate. At the gate we engaged the gust lock. After a few minutes; I unlocked the gust lock to try my controls; found that my elevator control was full movement of the yoke; with no movement of the elevator. [We] wrote up aircraft; called maintenance and dispatch; unknown cause.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Captain reports their Embraer aircraft started to pitch up and down 300-600 FPM. Autopilot suddenly disengaged and crew realized that both control yokes were locked-up with no elevator response. Gust Lock engagement was suspected; so the Captain pulled Elevator Disconnect Handle and First Officer's side then had immediate right elevator control.
Narrative: Cruising at FL310 with autopilot engaged; the aircraft started to pitch up and down 300-600 FT/minute. We thought it was caused by the weather below us. All of a sudden the autopilot disengaged; I grabbed the yoke to stabilize the aircraft; but found it hard to control the pitch and could only stabilize the aircraft by using the Pitch Trim. Asked the First Officer to fly; he confirmed my findings. I then pulled the Elevator Disconnect lever; made no difference on my side; but the First Officer had immediate control. Ran the QRH; told Center our problem and that we would have to slow to 200 KTS as per QRH. He handed us off to Approach; told them our problem and declared an emergency. Landed with no problems and went to the gate. At the gate we engaged the Gust Lock. After a few minutes; I unlocked the Gust Lock to try my controls; found that my elevator control was full movement of the yoke; with no movement of the elevator. [We] wrote up aircraft; called Maintenance and Dispatch; unknown cause.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.