Service difficulty report · Actuator · Boeing 727233

Difficulty date
November 27, 2009
Submitted
December 1, 2009
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N266FE
Make and model
Boeing 727233
Aircraft serial
21672
Aircraft time
49,648 hours, 30,063 cycles
Part
Actuator
Part number
56024003
Part serial
077500AA
Condition
Failed
Location
Autopilot
Part time
11,640 hours, 9,102 cycles
Stage of operation
CR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
J
Precautionary procedure
H

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FL310, MACH .84, THE AUTOPILOT WAS PULSING BACK AND FORTH WITH A CORRESPONDING ACFT PITCHING MOVEMENT. DECIDED TO TRY SERVO B, UPON DISCONNECTING AUTOPILOT, DISCOVERED ACFT WAS OUT-OF-TRIM NOSE UP. COULD NOT TRIM THE ACFT NOSE DOWN WITH EITHER CONTROL WHEEL TRIM SWITCH, CRUISE TRIM, OR MANUAL TRIM WHEELS. THE TRIM WAS INDICATING .5 NOSE UP, WE COULD TRIM AFT (MORE NOSE UP), BUT NOT NOSE DOWN PAST .5 NOSE UP. AFTER LANDING, TRIM WORKED NORMALLY AND WOULD TRIM PAST .5 NOSE UP. REMOVED AND REPLACED AUTOPILOT STABILIZER TRIM SERVO MOTOR IAW AMM 22-11-021-2. ACFT OK TO CONTINUE. PREMATURE REMOVAL/INSTALLATION.