B737 flight crew reported after takeoff the elevator control system felt stiff. The pilots elected to divert to a nearby airport for maintenance action. An overweight landing was successfully accomplished.
Synopsis
B737 flight crew reported after takeoff the elevator control system felt stiff. The pilots elected to divert to a nearby airport for maintenance action. An overweight landing was successfully accomplished.
Narrative
After pushback from ZZZ; we performed the Control Check; and the First Officer (FO) noted that the Elevator Control felt 'stiff'. I performed the check and also noticed the stiffness; but there was no restriction or problem with movement. We discussed our options and I decided since there was no binding or restricted movement; we should be good to continue. On departure at 800 ft. AGL; the FO performed the thrust cutback as per the noise abatement procedure. When I went to lower the pitch; the yoke felt stuck. It took an unusual amount of force to free the yoke and lower the nose. We leveled off at 13;000 ft. and ran the Jammed or Restricted Flight Controls QRH. Upon completion of the QRH; we decided it was best to divert to ZZZ1. I coordinated with Dispatch and told him our problem and the plan to divert to ZZZ1; and he agreed that was the best course of action. The FO coordinated our divert with Approach. We did not [request priority handling] as the aircraft was flying normally. I briefed the Flight Attendants and Passengers and called ZZZ1 Station Operations to ensure they were in the loop. The FO calculated the landing data and we realized we would have to make an overweight landing; as we weighed 133;500 pounds. He referenced the overweight landing section in the manual and we decided to land on XXR at ZZZ1 since it was the longest runway. We looked at brake cooling but it was not a factor. We configured normally; landed and taxied to the gate without incident. All in all; this was a fairly straightforward diversion; but after pulling into the gate; coordinating with Maintenance; Dispatch; Company Operations Chief Pilot; and Crew Scheduling; and making the appropriate write-ups; I found myself drained. I was very grateful we did not have to continue with our flying and instead got to deadhead home.
Second reporter narrative
On takeoff; as the Captain lowered the nose to accelerate; he experienced a very brief 'hanging up' in the elevator controls. It was easily overpowered and the decision to make a precautionary overweight landing in ZZZ1 was made. During the previous landing I noticed a very slight roughness in the elevator during flare; but it was not a feeling that was out of the ordinary enough to cause concern of a potential malfunction. During the Flight Control Check; there was a slight roughness in the elevator; but again it didn't seem anything more than what would be experienced during normal operations. It was very subtle and noted by both of us as being within normal limits from past experience. I noticed the 'hang up' that the Captain experienced on takeoff and it had amplified enough to cause us both concern and initiate a divert.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.