PA-46 Malibu Meridian
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 27000; Flight Crew Type 225
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
The Aircraft had been flown 2 days prior with no problems; in fact the auto pilot was working well after work by the avionics shop. Before takeoff I noted the controls were stiff but usable. It was about 5 degrees outside and the plane had been cold soaked. I figured once the cabin heated up things would be normal. About 10 minutes into the flight the elevator control became very stiff; making the plane harder to control. As time went on it got worse. At this point I was very close to ZZZ and figured the best thing was to get it on the ground. After landing I showed the owner the problem; called [maintenance] and was advised to get the plane in a warm hangar before the mechanic arrived from ZZZ1. About 30 to 40 minutes after that; the elevator became impossible to move from the outside.Talking with Piper they suggested the problem might be a plastic roller within the control column.
The pilot of a Piper PA-46 found that the elevator was very stiff to operate and got stiffer during flight.