# What is the procedure if an aircraft elevator/aileron is jammed?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 1, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231 "2016-06-01T13:29:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231/21 "2016-06-03T04:39:37Z")

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> [@Richard\_Pearse](#):
>
> I thought you were going to link to this [youtube video](https://youtu.be/YydkHy2P0dU) which is a graphic example of what happens when the controls are locked.

That’s incredibly painful to watch. You can imagine those moments of utter bewilderment and panic when nothing responds.

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231/22 "2016-06-03T14:03:54Z")

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Another tragic case was the 2014 crash of a Gulfstream IV jet at Hanscom Field (northwest of Boston), that killed 7 people, including the owner of the Philadelphia _Inquirer_.

The pilots failed to do a proper pre-flight check, and attempted to take off with the elevator gust locks engaged.

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