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After pushback; B757 flight crew reports detecting aileron binding during a flight control check and returns to the gate. Damage to an aileron is discovered and it is suspected that it occurred prior to the previous flight; but was not detected by the crew.

Narrative:

While performing the flight control check; noted binding when ailerons were deflected 1/2 way to the right. Asked the captain if he was restricting movement; he was not. Pushed to full deflection. Ailerons initially stuck at full deflection; then when pushed back left froze at 1/2 deflection. Reported the malfunction to ground and taxied back to parking. Note: I also noticed this on the ground during flight control check at ZZZ; but it was a temporary 'hitch' when moved right with no recurrence. After the initial sluggish feeling; which was very transient; there was no more odd feeling in the controls. I assumed a burble in the hydraulic line from sitting in depot or something of that nature that worked itself out and did not require further attention. It appears from the maintenance log that the left aileron was binding; interfering with a panel on the wing. It was supposedly flight checked before we got it. Since the fcf (functional check flight) crew didn't notice anything; I can only assume it happened after they left and before we got to the plane. It is impossible in my opinion to damage that area without running something into the aircraft from behind; and since we did not back the plane or push back at all; I don't see how aircrew could prevent this damage.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After pushback; B757 flight crew reports detecting aileron binding during a flight control check and returns to the gate. Damage to an aileron is discovered and it is suspected that it occurred prior to the previous flight; but was not detected by the crew.

Narrative: While performing the flight control check; noted binding when ailerons were deflected 1/2 way to the right. Asked the captain if he was restricting movement; he was not. Pushed to full deflection. Ailerons initially stuck at full deflection; then when pushed back left froze at 1/2 deflection. Reported the malfunction to ground and taxied back to parking. NOTE: I also noticed this on the ground during flight control check at ZZZ; but it was a temporary 'hitch' when moved right with no recurrence. After the initial sluggish feeling; which was very transient; there was no more odd feeling in the controls. I assumed a burble in the hydraulic line from sitting in depot or something of that nature that worked itself out and did not require further attention. It appears from the maintenance log that the left aileron was binding; interfering with a panel on the wing. It was supposedly flight checked before we got it. Since the FCF (Functional Check Flight) crew didn't notice anything; I can only assume it happened after they left and before we got to the plane. It is impossible in my opinion to damage that area without running something into the aircraft from behind; and since we did not back the plane or push back at all; I don't see how aircrew could prevent this damage.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.