Narrative:

Left FL350 on idle power descent, deployed speed brakes to assist slower than normal descent to reach a crossing restriction. The aircraft vibrated slightly above normal amount but descent on autoplt was considered pretty normal. Speed was 309 KIAS and rate of descent was approximately 3700 FPM down when vibration increased. I slowly retracted speed brakes and the aircraft violently shuddered, the smoothly pitched down 10 degree. I disconnected the autoplt, slowed the aircraft as I leveled off at 11000'. The aircraft flew normally, by hand, as we descended on approach. As things were fairly normal, clean, 250 KIAS descent, I assumed that the speed brakes had caused the problem. As I slowed for approach, the aircraft began to vibrate slightly. As we extended flaps to 30 degree and slowed to 130 KIAS for final approach the aircraft began a slow uncommanded toll to the left. Assuming floating spoiler panels, I increased thrust, eliminating the roll as speed approached 145 KIAS. I maintained that speed to T/D. Uneventful landing. All secondary hydraulic engine and flight control indications were normal throughout. Lost flight inspection revealed a sep of the right elevator trim tab panel, all but approximately 6 of metal were lost except around the attachment rod and pin. Shudder at 15000' MSL must have been at sep of the aileron trim tab. Outbnd flight was cancelled and maintenance personnel and parts were sent from home base to fix the aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG SUFFERS LOSS OF AILERON TRIM TAB.

Narrative: LEFT FL350 ON IDLE PWR DSNT, DEPLOYED SPD BRAKES TO ASSIST SLOWER THAN NORMAL DSNT TO REACH A XING RESTRICTION. THE ACFT VIBRATED SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL AMOUNT BUT DSNT ON AUTOPLT WAS CONSIDERED PRETTY NORMAL. SPD WAS 309 KIAS AND RATE OF DSNT WAS APPROX 3700 FPM DOWN WHEN VIBRATION INCREASED. I SLOWLY RETRACTED SPD BRAKES AND THE ACFT VIOLENTLY SHUDDERED, THE SMOOTHLY PITCHED DOWN 10 DEG. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT, SLOWED THE ACFT AS I LEVELED OFF AT 11000'. THE ACFT FLEW NORMALLY, BY HAND, AS WE DSNDED ON APCH. AS THINGS WERE FAIRLY NORMAL, CLEAN, 250 KIAS DSNT, I ASSUMED THAT THE SPD BRAKES HAD CAUSED THE PROB. AS I SLOWED FOR APCH, THE ACFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. AS WE EXTENDED FLAPS TO 30 DEG AND SLOWED TO 130 KIAS FOR FINAL APCH THE ACFT BEGAN A SLOW UNCOMMANDED TOLL TO THE L. ASSUMING FLOATING SPOILER PANELS, I INCREASED THRUST, ELIMINATING THE ROLL AS SPD APCHED 145 KIAS. I MAINTAINED THAT SPD TO T/D. UNEVENTFUL LNDG. ALL SECONDARY HYD ENG AND FLT CTL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL THROUGHOUT. LOST FLT INSPECTION REVEALED A SEP OF THE R ELEVATOR TRIM TAB PANEL, ALL BUT APPROX 6 OF METAL WERE LOST EXCEPT AROUND THE ATTACHMENT ROD AND PIN. SHUDDER AT 15000' MSL MUST HAVE BEEN AT SEP OF THE AILERON TRIM TAB. OUTBND FLT WAS CANCELLED AND MAINT PERSONNEL AND PARTS WERE SENT FROM HOME BASE TO FIX THE ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.