B757 captain experiences high elevator force required for rotation. Upon landing cargo loading is ch...

Narrative:

During two successive legs in the same aircraft; the aircraft required abnormally high control column force to rotate to the takeoff pitch attitude. With trim properly set; the aircraft appeared to be significantly nose heavy. On the first leg I was the pilot flying. Once at cruise; we queried load planning about the loading of the aircraft. Load planning arranged for an 'audit' of the loading upon our arrival. Once parked at the gate; I met a load planning representative and observed the correct number of bags removed form the forward pit. During the subsequent takeoff; the first officer was flying and experienced the same stick force requirement during rotation. It was about 3 times the normal control force. The rest of the flight was normal; with no abnormal control feel or indications. During cruise; we discussed the situation with dispatch and maintenance; and wrote up the discrepancy. Upon arrival; we briefed station maintenance personnel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain experiences high elevator force required for rotation. Upon landing cargo loading is checked and found to be correct. On the next leg the First Officer experiences the same (nearly 3 time normal) stick forces required to rotate. Maintenance is advised and a log entry made upon landing.

Narrative: During two successive legs in the same aircraft; the aircraft required abnormally high control column force to rotate to the takeoff pitch attitude. With trim properly set; the aircraft appeared to be significantly nose heavy. On the first leg I was the pilot flying. Once at cruise; we queried load planning about the loading of the aircraft. Load planning arranged for an 'audit' of the loading upon our arrival. Once parked at the gate; I met a load planning representative and observed the correct number of bags removed form the forward pit. During the subsequent takeoff; the First Officer was flying and experienced the same stick force requirement during rotation. It was about 3 times the normal control force. The rest of the flight was normal; with no abnormal control feel or indications. During cruise; we discussed the situation with Dispatch and Maintenance; and wrote up the discrepancy. Upon arrival; we briefed station maintenance personnel.

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.

Attributes
ACN	921183
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Elevator ControlSystem
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 225 Flight Crew Total 16500 Flight Crew Type 6000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

B757 captain experiences high elevator force required for rotation. Upon landing cargo loading is checked and found to be correct. On the next leg the first officer experiences the same (nearly 3 time normal) stick forces required to rotate. Maintenance is advised and a log entry made upon landing.