Created Tuesday, May 25th 2021 19:38Z, last updated Tuesday, May 25th 2021 19:38Z
A North Cariboo Air de Havilland Dash 8-300, registration C-FHNC performing flight
NCB-4051 from Kirby Lake,AB to Edmonton,AB (Canada) with 29 passengers and 3 crew, was accelerating for takeoff from Kirby Lake, flaps set at 15 degrees, when at 95 KIAS the crew attempted to rotate the aircraft but felt an abnormally heavy elevator control and rejected takeoff. The aircraft slowed safely and came to a stop on the runway.
The Canadian TSB reported the crew subsequently vacated the runway and tested the flight controls and found the elevator travel heavy during the first third of travel, then becoming normal. The crew configured the aircraft for another takeoff, applied more force during the takeoff rotation and completed the flight to Edmonton.
Company maintenance subsequently visually inspected elevators, elevator tabs and horizontal stabilizers and performed an operational test of the elevator control system with no anomalies found. The examination concluded the heavy feel on the elevator was the result of the near full forward CG and the specific flap configuration.
