B737-700 first officer mistrimmed the stabilizer, elevator combination for more drag on the aircraft...

Attributes
ACN	629150
Time
Date	200408
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : san.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	629150
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : trim indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on final approach to runway 27 at san, PF felt he needed more flaps because he was above profile so we selected flaps 40 degrees. As I talked to tower to receive landing clearance, I noticed trim wheel was in motion for longer than normal. I inquired about the trim and the first officer said he was trimming. This is when I noticed the trim indicator was near 10 degrees nose up and the first officer was using brute force to push the nose over. He could see the concerned look on my face and stated, 'this was a way to get a little more out of the aircraft.' as we approached the 'slot' at 1000 ft, he ran the trim down to a more neutral position. After landing, I inquired about this event and he stated he learned this from another pilot here at our company. I know this is not an approved procedure, and not sure what stress or load this puts on the tail.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-700 FO MISTRIMMED THE STABILIZER, ELEVATOR COMBINATION FOR MORE DRAG ON THE ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 27 AT SAN, PF FELT HE NEEDED MORE FLAPS BECAUSE HE WAS ABOVE PROFILE SO WE SELECTED FLAPS 40 DEGS. AS I TALKED TO TWR TO RECEIVE LNDG CLRNC, I NOTICED TRIM WHEEL WAS IN MOTION FOR LONGER THAN NORMAL. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE TRIM AND THE FO SAID HE WAS TRIMMING. THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THE TRIM INDICATOR WAS NEAR 10 DEGS NOSE UP AND THE FO WAS USING BRUTE FORCE TO PUSH THE NOSE OVER. HE COULD SEE THE CONCERNED LOOK ON MY FACE AND STATED, 'THIS WAS A WAY TO GET A LITTLE MORE OUT OF THE ACFT.' AS WE APCHED THE 'SLOT' AT 1000 FT, HE RAN THE TRIM DOWN TO A MORE NEUTRAL POS. AFTER LNDG, I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS EVENT AND HE STATED HE LEARNED THIS FROM ANOTHER PLT HERE AT OUR COMPANY. I KNOW THIS IS NOT AN APPROVED PROC, AND NOT SURE WHAT STRESS OR LOAD THIS PUTS ON THE TAIL.

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.