SAIB: CE-12-41 Flight Controls – Loose Glide Screw

[hharney]

Taken from the bulletin:

The FAA received a report through the Safety Difficulty Reporting (SDR) system of a jammed elevator control system on a Cessna Model 182S airplane. The jam occurred in flight in the neutral elevator position, and the pilot was able to land the airplane safely using elevator pitch trim control. A mechanic removed the control wheel assembly and discovered the screw (part number (P/N) NAS220-14), which secures the plug (P/N 0760681-1) and glide (P/N 0760651-2), had completely backed out and jammed the elevator control.

A screw that completely backs out could jam the elevator in any position encountered during normal operation. There have been seven other reports of this screw being found with no or low torque.