A C560XL TRIM warning annunciated on approach and when the autopilot was disconnected the elevator became stuck and the trim wheel nearly frozen. A great deal of pilot elevator input was required until at approach speed when an emergency was declared.

NASA callback

The Reporter was not flying pilot at the time of this event but was actively communicating with the flying pilot to determine if the other pilot needed additional input in order to control the aircraft's pitch. The other pilot obviously put great deal of physical effort into the elevator control until the aircraft slowed to approach speed where it was much more manageable. The Reporter stated that he was attempting to manually trim but the wheel was extremely difficult to move. The Reporter also stated that the aircraft was cold soaked from being at high altitude for six of past eight hours. The next day; talking with mechanics; the crew was told that a trim actuator in the tail had failed. But while troubleshooting the problem the mechanics were not able to duplicate the flight crew's reported difficulty until one mechanic went out and held the trim tab while the other attempted to move the elevator which became nearly impossible as the flight crew reported. The Reporter is uncertain that item replaced was at fault because about a week later a fellow pilot emailed him to report a repeat event like this occurred on his flight. The Reporter also reported that prior to this flight the trim wheel jumped and they had to return to the gate for maintenance because although the trim wheel indicated it was in the takeoff band; a TAKEOFF CONFIG warning indicated the internal workings were not where the wheel said they were.