An EMB145 pilot reports that on approach after selecting flaps 45; the flight crew experienced a los...

Attributes
ACN	766131
Time
Date	200712
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower tower : tul.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	766131
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On short final; after selecting flaps to 45; the control effectiveness of the elevator was reduced. The yoke could be moved forward and aft approximately 10 inches with no effect on the aircraft movement. The landing was uneventful. The loss of effectiveness was not felt at any other point during the approach.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that this aircraft type has had elevator flight control issues in the past. Some aircraft by specific n-numbers with minor elevator control response delay issues have been granted waivers by the mfg. This aircraft did not have a waiver and the dead zone was much larger than the aircraft with the waiver. This particular event occurred below 500 ft and after the transition to the final flap confign at flaps 45. The dead zone was much larger than the reporter had seen before and he felt that his best option was to get the aircraft on the ground. Since this event the reporter's air carrier has issued a job card requiring inspections for loose torque tube connections.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 PLT RPTS THAT ON APCH AFTER SELECTING FLAPS 45; THE FLT CREW EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ELEVATOR RESPONSE WITHIN A 10-INCH MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL YOKE.

Narrative: ON SHORT FINAL; AFTER SELECTING FLAPS TO 45; THE CTL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ELEVATOR WAS REDUCED. THE YOKE COULD BE MOVED FORWARD AND AFT APPROX 10 INCHES WITH NO EFFECT ON THE ACFT MOVEMENT. THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS WAS NOT FELT AT ANY OTHER POINT DURING THE APCH.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THIS ACFT TYPE HAS HAD ELEVATOR FLT CTL ISSUES IN THE PAST. SOME ACFT BY SPECIFIC N-NUMBERS WITH MINOR ELEVATOR CTL RESPONSE DELAY ISSUES HAVE BEEN GRANTED WAIVERS BY THE MFG. THIS ACFT DID NOT HAVE A WAIVER AND THE DEAD ZONE WAS MUCH LARGER THAN THE ACFT WITH THE WAIVER. THIS PARTICULAR EVENT OCCURRED BELOW 500 FT AND AFTER THE TRANSITION TO THE FINAL FLAP CONFIGN AT FLAPS 45. THE DEAD ZONE WAS MUCH LARGER THAN THE RPTR HAD SEEN BEFORE AND HE FELT THAT HIS BEST OPTION WAS TO GET THE ACFT ON THE GND. SINCE THIS EVENT THE RPTR'S ACR HAS ISSUED A JOB CARD REQUIRING INSPECTIONS FOR LOOSE TORQUE TUBE CONNECTIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An EMB145 pilot reports that on approach after selecting flaps 45; the flight crew experienced a loss of elevator response within a 10-inch movement of the control yoke.