A B727-200 DSNDING INTO MSP HAS THE ELEVATOR CTLS BIND AND FREEZE. AS THE FLT CONTINUES; THE CTLS BECOME NORMAL.

Narrative

COPLT WAS FLYING THE EAU-3 STAR ARR INTO MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL ARPT WITH THE AUTOPLT OFF. WHILE IN HIS TURN AT THE 8 MI FIX AND 10000 FT TO THE 300 DEG HDG THE FLT CTLS BOUND UP IN THE PITCH MODE. SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE WAS REQUIRED (BACK PRESSURE) TO FREE UP THE FLT CTLS. A SIGNIFICANT SNAPPING SOUND COULD BE HEARD AND FELT COMING FROM THE CAPT'S YOKE. THIS INCIDENT ONLY OCCURRED ONE TIME. THIS PARTICULAR FLT WAS A FERRY FLT WITH NO PAX ABOARD. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CALLBACK REVEALED THE CAUSE OF THE FLT CTLS BINDING DURING DSCNT. AFTER LNDG; MAINT FOUND A LOOSE PIECE OF DUCTING THAT LODGED INTO THE FLT CTLS AND WAS BINDING THE CAPT'S CTL YOKE. WHEN ADDITIONAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED IT CRUSHED THE DUCTING WHICH RELEASED THE FLT CTLS. THERE WAS NO MORE BINDING OF FLT CTLS AFTER THAT. THE LOOSE DUCTING ALSO EXPLAINED THE SNAPPING SOUND AS THE DUCTING WAS CRUSHED WITH CTL MOVEMENT. THERE WAS NO MORE CTL BINDING AFTER THIS OCCURRENCE. RPTR SURMISES THAT BECAUSE THE ACFT WAS PURCHASED FROM ANOTHER AIRLINE THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS; THE BANKRUPT ACR DIDN'T TAKE GOOD CARE OF ITS ACFT. MAINT IS LOOSELY PERFORMED WHEN A COMPANY HAS ECONOMIC PROBS.