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A304 cz sailplane at 3500 ft experienced limited aileron control at the center point. Made a precautionary landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 527172 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200110 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : rvl.airport |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 3500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | Other |
| Make Model Name | Sail Plane |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level ground : parked |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 70 |
| ASRS Report | 527172 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
I was on vacation, flying my single glider out of rvl. After I released from tow, I performed the standard right turn after clearing for traffic. I proceeded to fly above a ridge line heading approximately 060 degrees. I attempted to turn left and circle in a thermal and the control stick would not go past center. I applied nose pressure and it passed what felt like an obstruction and I heard a 'clunk' sound. This occurred 2 additional times after a right turn and then an attempted left turn after level flight. Each time I was able to force the control stick past the obstruction and had full control of the aircraft. I terminated the flight after 26 mins and landed at rvl without incident. The ship was taken to a repair station and 2 or 3 pieces of cured resin were found around the aileron drive mechanism. They were able to reproduce the jammed condition I experienced before finding the resin pieces. The factory and all current owners were notified by e-mail.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A304 CZ SAILPLANE AT 3500 FT EXPERIENCED LIMITED AILERON CTL AT THE CTR POINT. MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.
Narrative: I WAS ON VACATION, FLYING MY SINGLE GLIDER OUT OF RVL. AFTER I RELEASED FROM TOW, I PERFORMED THE STANDARD R TURN AFTER CLRING FOR TFC. I PROCEEDED TO FLY ABOVE A RIDGE LINE HDG APPROX 060 DEGS. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN L AND CIRCLE IN A THERMAL AND THE CTL STICK WOULD NOT GO PAST CTR. I APPLIED NOSE PRESSURE AND IT PASSED WHAT FELT LIKE AN OBSTRUCTION AND I HEARD A 'CLUNK' SOUND. THIS OCCURRED 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER A R TURN AND THEN AN ATTEMPTED L TURN AFTER LEVEL FLT. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE CTL STICK PAST THE OBSTRUCTION AND HAD FULL CTL OF THE ACFT. I TERMINATED THE FLT AFTER 26 MINS AND LANDED AT RVL WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE SHIP WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR STATION AND 2 OR 3 PIECES OF CURED RESIN WERE FOUND AROUND THE AILERON DRIVE MECHANISM. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE JAMMED CONDITION I EXPERIENCED BEFORE FINDING THE RESIN PIECES. THE FACTORY AND ALL CURRENT OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY E-MAIL.
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.