How should you verify there is no obstruction around ailerons, rudder, or elevator?

How should you verify there is no obstruction around ailerons, rudder, or elevator?

• A. Visually inspect for damage or foreign objects; do not attempt any movement checks.
• B. Visually inspect for damage or foreign objects and perform a movement test using the aircraft's control surface position indicators only.
• C. Visually inspect for obstructions around the surfaces and use a borescope.
• D. Visually inspect for damage or foreign objects and physically test for obstruction-free movement.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to confirm that each control surface can move freely and through its full range without any obstruction. Start with a careful visual check around the ailerons, rudder, and elevator to look for damage, signs of wear, or anything foreign that could interfere with movement. But visuals alone don’t prove the surface actually moves cleanly. The next step is a physical movement test: gently move each surface through its full range of travel and feel for smooth, unbinding motion, checking that there’s no binding, snagging, or excessive resistance at any point. Using only position indicators won’t reveal a real obstruction, because indicators show where the surface is supposed to be, not whether it can arrive there without interference. Borescopes can help in some internal inspections, but they don’t verify external clearance during real movement. So the correct approach combines visual inspection with a hands-on test of obstruction-free movement.

The main idea is to confirm that each control surface can move freely and through its full range without any obstruction. Start with a careful visual check around the ailerons, rudder, and elevator to look for damage, signs of wear, or anything foreign that could interfere with movement. But visuals alone don’t prove the surface actually moves cleanly. The next step is a physical movement test: gently move each surface through its full range of travel and feel for smooth, unbinding motion, checking that there’s no binding, snagging, or excessive resistance at any point. Using only position indicators won’t reveal a real obstruction, because indicators show where the surface is supposed to be, not whether it can arrive there without interference. Borescopes can help in some internal inspections, but they don’t verify external clearance during real movement. So the correct approach combines visual inspection with a hands-on test of obstruction-free movement.