Narrative:

I (a contract mechanic) was called out by maintenance control and was informed that they had an aircraft returning back to the gate due to the rudder pedals stuck. I told maintenance control that it sounded like the gust lock system was sticking and asked if the gust lock was on the elevator and rudder. He said he did not know. I ask him for instructions on what to do. He said to go to the aircraft and verify that there was nothing physically obstructing the rudder or pedals and call him from the aircraft. I went to the aircraft and inspected rudder system and verified no obstacles blocking rudder system. I talked to the captain and he said he discovered the rudder pedals not moving after being pushed back from the gate. He returned to the gate and tried to reset the electric gust lock system as informed by maintenance control. He said it did not work.I called maintenance control back and the previous controller I talked to was busy. I informed the maintenance controller of the situation and he said; he had had this problem before and it was just one of the gust lock solenoids sticking. He told me to move the control column back and forth swiftly and see if it would unstick. It did not. He said to activate the stick shaker test; which I did. The shaker test shakes the control column. After the test; the rudder pedals moved freely. I checked them as well and the captain checked them also. The maintenance controller said we were going to deactivate and MEL the gust lock system; which we did. The aircraft was dispatched with the gust lock on MEL. Later that day; I called maintenance control because they had not called me back with a work order number. The controller that answered said they had been too busy and meant to call. He then ask why we MEL'ed the gust lock and said the gust lock does not lock the rudder. This is the opposite of what I had been previously told. At this point; I do not know if the rudder is; or is not; part of the gust lock system. On most planes it normally is. However; the last maintenance controller I received the work order number from; said he was certain that the gust lock had nothing to due with the rudder. As a contract mechanic; we only work under the direct guidance and control of the airline's maintenance control. They have the access to the maintenance manuals and relay what they want us to do. At this point I am not sure if the rudder system is part of the gust lock or not. If it is not then the MEL for the gust lock would have been inappropriate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Contracted Mechanic reports he was called out by airline Maintenance Control; because an Embraer 145 was returning back to the gate; due to rudder pedals stuck. Attempts to reset the electric gust lock system to free the rudder pedals did not work. After a control column stick shaker test the rudder pedals were free.

Narrative: I (a contract mechanic) was called out by Maintenance Control and was informed that they had an aircraft returning back to the gate due to the rudder pedals stuck. I told maintenance control that it sounded like the gust lock system was sticking and asked if the gust lock was on the elevator and rudder. He said he did not know. I ask him for instructions on what to do. He said to go to the aircraft and verify that there was nothing physically obstructing the rudder or pedals and call him from the aircraft. I went to the aircraft and inspected rudder system and verified no obstacles blocking rudder system. I talked to the Captain and he said he discovered the rudder pedals not moving after being pushed back from the gate. He returned to the gate and tried to reset the electric gust lock system as informed by Maintenance Control. He said it did not work.I called Maintenance Control back and the previous Controller I talked to was busy. I informed the Maintenance Controller of the situation and he said; he had had this problem before and it was just one of the gust lock solenoids sticking. He told me to move the control column back and forth swiftly and see if it would unstick. It did not. He said to activate the stick shaker test; which I did. The shaker test shakes the control column. After the test; the rudder pedals moved freely. I checked them as well and the Captain checked them also. The Maintenance Controller said we were going to deactivate and MEL the gust lock system; which we did. The aircraft was dispatched with the gust lock on MEL. Later that day; I called Maintenance Control because they had not called me back with a work order number. The Controller that answered said they had been too busy and meant to call. He then ask why we MEL'ed the gust lock and said the gust lock does not lock the rudder. This is the opposite of what I had been previously told. At this point; I do not know if the rudder is; or is not; part of the gust lock system. On most planes it normally is. However; the last Maintenance Controller I received the work order number from; said he was certain that the gust lock had nothing to due with the rudder. As a Contract Mechanic; we only work under the direct guidance and control of the airline's Maintenance Control. They have the access to the maintenance manuals and relay what they want us to do. At this point I am not sure if the rudder system is part of the gust lock or not. If it is not then the MEL for the gust lock would have been inappropriate.

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.