Narrative:

Captain arrived at operations. Captain called dispatch to discuss 6 pages of mels and cf items on aircraft! Aircraft was delayed at gate due to maintenance issues. Captain added extra fuel due to aircraft fuel synoptic problems; mels and poor flight planning. Flight continued normally to ZZZ. Weather at ZZZ was IFR with light snow; planning runway 28; wind 260 degrees at 18 KTS gusting to 24 KTS. At 5;000 ft MSL and east of ZZZ on downwind; flight experienced 'aileron lockout' message. Captain notified approach that aircraft experienced flight control problems and had to maintain heading 090 degrees wings level; delaying approach and go to holding area and call company and access problem. Captain notified flight attendants for cabin advisory. Relief crews assisted captain and monitored flight progress. Crew called dispatch and advised. Captain on satcom was assessing problem with ailerons with maintenance. Maintenance wanted information from cmc computer and flight control synoptic data. Cmc showed that system was 'cmc inhibited.' very poor timing to have system not working and flight crew unable to accurately access problem. Maintenance notified crew downloaded data show #4 aileron 'locked out' and unusable. 'Amber alert' was issued for landing on runway 28R. Captain elected to use alternate weather fuel for holding and problem solving and issued 'fuel advisory.' crew elected to fly '50 mile' runway 28R final approach from ZZZ1 approach area to avoid unnecessary flight aileron maneuvering and the flight was in that area. Landing ok and no problems were experienced after landing. Flight manual guidance shows that aircraft has reduced roll rate due to outboard aileron lockout and reduced crosswind limitation. The problem is more dramatic in the aircraft than the book indicates; especially in turbulence; and normally this is not a training maneuver in the syllabus in the simulator which should be included. Captain discussed problem with maintenance after landing on the telephone. Advised dispatch. Chronic maintenance issues and inflight problems are becoming excessive and are putting undue stress and fatigue on flight crews; especially after an international 12 hour flight on a 6 day schedule to the captain and flying first officer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B747-400 experienced an 'Aileron Lockout' on approach to an airport with winds of 280/18G24 in snow. After troubleshooting and using extra fuel the crew landed with no problems but fatigued after a 12 hour flight on this the sixth day of an international trip.

Narrative: Captain arrived at operations. Captain called dispatch to discuss 6 pages of MELs and CF items on aircraft! Aircraft was delayed at gate due to maintenance issues. Captain added extra fuel due to aircraft fuel synoptic problems; MELs and poor flight planning. Flight continued normally to ZZZ. Weather at ZZZ was IFR with light snow; planning Runway 28; wind 260 degrees at 18 KTS gusting to 24 KTS. At 5;000 FT MSL and east of ZZZ on downwind; flight experienced 'Aileron Lockout' message. Captain notified Approach that aircraft experienced flight control problems and had to maintain heading 090 degrees wings level; delaying approach and go to holding area and call company and access problem. Captain notified Flight Attendants for Cabin Advisory. Relief crews assisted Captain and monitored flight progress. Crew called dispatch and advised. Captain on Satcom was assessing problem with ailerons with maintenance. Maintenance wanted information from CMC Computer and flight control synoptic data. CMC showed that system was 'CMC inhibited.' Very poor timing to have system not working and flight crew unable to accurately access problem. Maintenance notified crew downloaded data show #4 aileron 'locked out' and unusable. 'Amber Alert' was issued for landing on Runway 28R. Captain elected to use alternate weather fuel for holding and problem solving and issued 'Fuel Advisory.' Crew elected to fly '50 mile' Runway 28R final approach from ZZZ1 Approach area to avoid unnecessary flight aileron maneuvering and the flight was in that area. Landing OK and no problems were experienced after landing. Flight manual guidance shows that aircraft has reduced roll rate due to outboard aileron lockout and reduced crosswind limitation. The problem is more dramatic in the aircraft than the book indicates; especially in turbulence; and normally this is not a training maneuver in the syllabus in the simulator which should be included. Captain discussed problem with maintenance after landing on the telephone. Advised dispatch. Chronic maintenance issues and inflight problems are becoming excessive and are putting undue stress and fatigue on flight crews; especially after an International 12 hour flight on a 6 day schedule to the Captain and flying First Officer.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.