Heftiger
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
- Messages
- 335
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Display name:
Heftiger
Flying the PA32 back from the beach last week; everything was looking good (at FL130).
Autopilot engaged and I'm noticing the yoke is turning more and more to the left to compensate for fuel burn. I disengage the autopilot just to do a check and the roll axis is STIFF.
I look back and notice that the kids have shifted around making the weight imbalance even worse, so I have them move back. It fixes the imbalance, but the controls are still stiff.
My first thought was the autopilot, so I ensured it was off. Also tried using the yoke disconnect, then eventually pulled the breaker. Still stiff.
Eventually fuel burn evened out the load and the yoke was level, but controls still stiff.
As we go closer to the destination and started descending, I noticed the controls seemed to be getting lighter. After landing I did a controls check on the taxiway and everything was normal.
Thoughts on what was going on here?
We were at the beach and it was pretty wet all weekend. I'm wondering if there was some condensation somewhere in the control linkage that froze when we got to altitude.
Any other suggestions?
Autopilot engaged and I'm noticing the yoke is turning more and more to the left to compensate for fuel burn. I disengage the autopilot just to do a check and the roll axis is STIFF.
I look back and notice that the kids have shifted around making the weight imbalance even worse, so I have them move back. It fixes the imbalance, but the controls are still stiff.
My first thought was the autopilot, so I ensured it was off. Also tried using the yoke disconnect, then eventually pulled the breaker. Still stiff.
Eventually fuel burn evened out the load and the yoke was level, but controls still stiff.
As we go closer to the destination and started descending, I noticed the controls seemed to be getting lighter. After landing I did a controls check on the taxiway and everything was normal.
Thoughts on what was going on here?
We were at the beach and it was pretty wet all weekend. I'm wondering if there was some condensation somewhere in the control linkage that froze when we got to altitude.
Any other suggestions?