Reported Control Yoke and Tiller Binding During Approach and Taxi (N303FL)

Incident Description and Initial Findings During final approach, about one-quarter mile from the end of the runway, the captain applied right aileron to correct for a crosswind. He reported that the control yoke felt as if it had “bound up” and that he used “excessive pressure” to make it respond. The aircraft landed without further incident. ## Taxi Observations and Maintenance Checks While taxiing, the captain cycled the control yoke left and right. After several cycles, it appeared to move freely. He then made an intentional sharp left turn, during which the tiller wheel seemed to “bind up.” Mechanics performed a nose landing gear wheel steering test and checked the cable tension to the nose wheel steering. They found a leak in the right-hand nose steering accumulator, but the leak was described as “within limits.” The case drain plugs and filters, as well as the left and right-hand aileron cables from the main wheel well outboard, were inspected. ## Follow-Up Testing and Outcome Following flight control movement card 7-9002, mechanics performed an aileron PCU internal leak check and noted no discrepancies. The aircraft was then test flown and returned to service. No data recovered from the DFDR explained the event as described by the captain.