B727 crew had airframe vibration. Vibration stopped when speed brakes were raised slightly.

Attributes
ACN	413776
Time
Date	199809
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	413776
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During descent from FL370 to FL290 because of reports of moderate turbulence ahead, low frequency vibration began en route in the airframe. All engine and other instruments appeared normal. Pulled spoiler lever out of detent and it stopped. Restowed and it would return. Had so take a look at the wing for spoiler float without success. Called maintenance on the radio. They suggested it was a trailing edge flap problem. Asked for long final after briefing flight attendant of problem and no need for action on their part. Configured early and noted no ctlability problems. Landed without incident. Nothing apparent on walkaround.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW HAD AIRFRAME VIBRATION. VIBRATION STOPPED WHEN SPD BRAKES WERE RAISED SLIGHTLY.

Narrative: DURING DSCNT FROM FL370 TO FL290 BECAUSE OF RPTS OF MODERATE TURB AHEAD, LOW FREQ VIBRATION BEGAN ENRTE IN THE AIRFRAME. ALL ENG AND OTHER INSTS APPEARED NORMAL. PULLED SPOILER LEVER OUT OF DETENT AND IT STOPPED. RESTOWED AND IT WOULD RETURN. HAD SO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WING FOR SPOILER FLOAT WITHOUT SUCCESS. CALLED MAINT ON THE RADIO. THEY SUGGESTED IT WAS A TRAILING EDGE FLAP PROB. ASKED FOR LONG FINAL AFTER BRIEFING FLT ATTENDANT OF PROB AND NO NEED FOR ACTION ON THEIR PART. CONFIGURED EARLY AND NOTED NO CTLABILITY PROBS. LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. NOTHING APPARENT ON WALKAROUND.

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.