What was found
AIRCRAFT WAS GROUNDED: AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO LAX DUE TO THE FLIGHT CREW REPORTING THAT INFLIGHT VIBRATIONS FELT FROM ABOUT 13,000 THROUGH CLIMB OUT 30,000 FEET APPROXIMATE SPEED 340. VIBRATION WAS FELT ON LEFT SIDE ON BOTH RUDDER PEDALS VIBRATIONS/ FLUTTERING/ A KICKING BACK FEELING WHEN THE FLIGHT CREWS FEET RESTED ON BOTH PEDALS. PLUS, THREE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REPORTED VIBRATIONS COMING FROM GALLEY FLOOR NEAR THE R4 AND R3 DOOR, VIBRATIONS THEY FELT THRU THEIR FEET. FLIGHT CREW REPORTED THAT ONCE SLOWING DOWN AT, BELOW 280 K VIBRATIONS GO AWAY MOSTLY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AT LAX WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. **SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT FOR AALA202601127496 SUBMITTED 1/12/2026 BY TUL: MAINTENANCE FOUND THE ELEVATOR HINGE BOLTS WORN WITH EXCESSIVE PLAY ON ALL OF THE HINGE FITTINGS FOR BOTH THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND ELEVATORS. MAINTENANCE REPLACED ALL OF THE HINGE BOLTS ON BOTH ELEVATORS PER AMM 27-34-41-400-001-A. A SATISFACTORY OPERATIONAL CHECK WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO ISSUES NOTED. ** (CLOSED)