Narrative:

After a normal departure from asheville we were given an initial altitude of 2000 ft. Climbing out we realized that the elevators appeared stuck. Because of this we were unable to level off at 2000 ft. We were unable to move the trim wheel fore or aft. After reducing power substantially and using force on the control column we were able to stop the climb at approximately 4500 ft MSL. While the captain maintained control of the aircraft I investigated the problem. We referred to our pilots operating handbook for the proper procedure. After finding none, we looked for and found the circuit breakers for the electric trim. After pulling the circuit breakers the problem was still not resolved. I continued to investigate and found that the aircraft maintenance can had become jammed between the trim wheel. After removing the can all control was reestablished. We operated the trim wheel in both directions as well as the control column. After determining that all controls were working properly. We continued the flight to atlanta hartsfield and landed without incident. To alleviate future incidents the maintenance can should be placed well behind all control surfaces. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that a maintenance can is a container that holds the maintenance forms in 1 central place. The maintenance can is not tied, hooked, or velcro taped in any 1 location. It is always free floating and can be found or placed anywhere in the cockpit. It would seem with such a loose object in the cockpit it would be just a matter of time before it might cause such a problem. Reporter was keeping the maintenance can by his foot. Now he doesn't keep it there, but has no other satisfactory place to keep it. It appears this maintenance can should be permanently located somewhere else in the cockpit.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF FLT CTL CAUSED BY JAMMED TRIM WHEEL.

Narrative: AFTER A NORMAL DEP FROM ASHEVILLE WE WERE GIVEN AN INITIAL ALT OF 2000 FT. CLBING OUT WE REALIZED THAT THE ELEVATORS APPEARED STUCK. BECAUSE OF THIS WE WERE UNABLE TO LEVEL OFF AT 2000 FT. WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE TRIM WHEEL FORE OR AFT. AFTER REDUCING PWR SUBSTANTIALLY AND USING FORCE ON THE CTL COLUMN WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CLB AT APPROX 4500 FT MSL. WHILE THE CAPT MAINTAINED CTL OF THE ACFT I INVESTIGATED THE PROB. WE REFERRED TO OUR PLTS OPERATING HANDBOOK FOR THE PROPER PROC. AFTER FINDING NONE, WE LOOKED FOR AND FOUND THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR THE ELECTRIC TRIM. AFTER PULLING THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS THE PROB WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. I CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE ACFT MAINT CAN HAD BECOME JAMMED BTWN THE TRIM WHEEL. AFTER REMOVING THE CAN ALL CTL WAS REESTABLISHED. WE OPERATED THE TRIM WHEEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AS WELL AS THE CTL COLUMN. AFTER DETERMINING THAT ALL CTLS WERE WORKING PROPERLY. WE CONTINUED THE FLT TO ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. TO ALLEVIATE FUTURE INCIDENTS THE MAINT CAN SHOULD BE PLACED WELL BEHIND ALL CTL SURFACES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT A MAINT CAN IS A CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE MAINT FORMS IN 1 CENTRAL PLACE. THE MAINT CAN IS NOT TIED, HOOKED, OR VELCRO TAPED IN ANY 1 LOCATION. IT IS ALWAYS FREE FLOATING AND CAN BE FOUND OR PLACED ANYWHERE IN THE COCKPIT. IT WOULD SEEM WITH SUCH A LOOSE OBJECT IN THE COCKPIT IT WOULD BE JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT MIGHT CAUSE SUCH A PROB. RPTR WAS KEEPING THE MAINT CAN BY HIS FOOT. NOW HE DOESN'T KEEP IT THERE, BUT HAS NO OTHER SATISFACTORY PLACE TO KEEP IT. IT APPEARS THIS MAINT CAN SHOULD BE PERMANENTLY LOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COCKPIT.

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.