A B767-300's ailerons were binding on the pre-takeoff control check. The aircraft was returned to th...

Attributes
ACN	860764
Time
Date	200911
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Aileron Control System
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 8000 Flight Crew Type 2000
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 249 Flight Crew Total 22000 Flight Crew Type 14000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

While parked in the holding pad; I attempted to perform the control check. When I turned the yoke left; it bound and stuck around 4 units left (yoke physically stuck left). Tried right and it went full throw right but bound and did not return to neutral. Moved yoke to neutral and noticed right inboard aileron was full deflection. Tried left and right again; and it bound; with the right inboard aileron not stuck full; but definitely lagging and staying full deflection longer than normal. Noticeable clicking heard and slight thump felt on the floor during aileron check. Never did get to check elevator due to the fact that we returned to the gate; but elevator checked ok by mechanics once we returned to the gate. Mechanics could not get the ailerons to bind; and the yoke never got stuck left or right (as it did for us); but they could hear the click and feel the bump. Something was definitely wrong with the flight controls and returning to the gate and grounding the aircraft was the proper safe response by the captain.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300's ailerons were binding on the pre-takeoff control check. The aircraft was returned to the gate and removed from service.

Narrative: While parked in the holding pad; I attempted to perform the control check. When I turned the yoke left; it bound and stuck around 4 units left (yoke physically stuck left). Tried right and it went full throw right but bound and did not return to neutral. Moved yoke to neutral and noticed right inboard aileron was full deflection. Tried left and right again; and it bound; with the right inboard aileron not stuck full; but definitely lagging and staying full deflection longer than normal. Noticeable clicking heard and slight thump felt on the floor during aileron check. Never did get to check elevator due to the fact that we returned to the gate; but elevator checked OK by mechanics once we returned to the gate. Mechanics could not get the ailerons to bind; and the yoke never got stuck left or right (as it did for us); but they could hear the click and feel the bump. Something was definitely wrong with the flight controls and returning to the gate and grounding the aircraft was the proper safe response by the Captain.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.