normb@tekred.UUCP (Norm Babcock ) (02/22/85)
Just about the time you figure you've seen the last "checklist AD"' another one pops up. Checklist ADs are those items peculiar to an a/c type, and are special little things that can bite, but never mentioned in the manufacturers checklist. I needed to run over to Hillsboro on business, so hopped into the local rental 172. Preflight and takeoff were perfectly normal. At Hillsboro, I was cleared for a straight-in, and came down the wire. After crossing the end of the runway, I started easing in some back pressure. The 172 didn't respond and the controls felt heavy. I'd been flying a 152 during the previous week, and attributed the "heavy" feel to the fact that the 172 is a bigger airplane. Before long though, I was still in a nose down attitude, and about to make a three-point landing (nosegear and both prop tips). I gave a real heave to the yoke, and was then nose up. Some days you can't win. Applied some power, made gross movements of the yoke, and settled down without breaking anything. After I'd parked, I sat there trying to figure out just exactly what had happened. I had checked the controls before takeoff, and they had seemed normal. I did so again while sitting there, and no problem. I went over the landing sequence in my mind, and realized that although I check the controls with both hands on the wheel, during landing I fly with the left hand, and use the right for throttle, flaps. etc. I put some left-to-right pressure on the yoke and worked it back and forth. Sure enough, it bound up tighter than a tick. I have not heard from the FBO about the cause yet, but have added my own checklist AD to preflight procedures. I'd be interested in hearing if other a/c have this problem, or if it's just the 172 that's prone. Norm tektronix!tekred!normb "You might suspect that you've made a gear-up landing if it takes more power than usual to taxi to the ramp" (U.S. Army Airforce training manual)
bluejay@samuri.DEC (02/25/85)
I've observed that the yoke on PA28's (Cherokee's) will sometimes
stick a bit, but a bit of lubrication clears the problem right up.
I've never had a problem like the one described in an earlier posting
where the yoke bound up completely in a C172.
- Bluejay Adametz, CFI
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