An air carrier large transport crew refused to take a frtr aircraft that was not airworthy.

Attributes
ACN	251839
Time
Date	199309
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dsm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	251839
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On taxi out, during before takeoff checklist we find that the elevator control indicator does not show full travel in either direction on either elevator. Taxi to a hold area and call our maintenance. They asked us if we can take the airplane to mem where they are better suited to fix the problem. We ask if they are kidding, they say no and we taxi back to the blocks. We talk to maintenance in mem on the phone and next they suggest we take the freight off and fly the aircraft empty to mem. Captain asks if it's not safe loaded, why would it be safe unloaded? Lots of pressure to move the aircraft because they say they don't have a spare. Corrective action: we parked the plane until it was fixed. Too much pressure to move planes, had to answer lots of calls.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT CREW REFUSED TO TAKE A FRTR ACFT THAT WAS NOT AIRWORTHY.

Narrative: ON TAXI OUT, DURING BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST WE FIND THAT THE ELEVATOR CTL INDICATOR DOES NOT SHOW FULL TRAVEL IN EITHER DIRECTION ON EITHER ELEVATOR. TAXI TO A HOLD AREA AND CALL OUR MAINT. THEY ASKED US IF WE CAN TAKE THE AIRPLANE TO MEM WHERE THEY ARE BETTER SUITED TO FIX THE PROB. WE ASK IF THEY ARE KIDDING, THEY SAY NO AND WE TAXI BACK TO THE BLOCKS. WE TALK TO MAINT IN MEM ON THE PHONE AND NEXT THEY SUGGEST WE TAKE THE FREIGHT OFF AND FLY THE ACFT EMPTY TO MEM. CAPT ASKS IF IT'S NOT SAFE LOADED, WHY WOULD IT BE SAFE UNLOADED? LOTS OF PRESSURE TO MOVE THE ACFT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE A SPARE. CORRECTIVE ACTION: WE PARKED THE PLANE UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO MOVE PLANES, HAD TO ANSWER LOTS OF CALLS.

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.