B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240; Flight Crew Total 18475; Flight Crew Type 10635
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Aircraft
During descent into ZZZ; extended speed brakes and experienced a strong uncommanded roll to the right. Retracted the speed brakes and aircraft rolled even stronger to the left; nosed down; and overspeed clacker sounded momentarily. [We notified ATC] since this was a flight control issue and uncertainty existed as to how the aircraft would respond after landing with auto spoiler activation. Aircraft continued descent and approach without further use of speed brakes and no further controllability issues occurred. Visual approach and landing were performed without incident. Spoilers were used for landing and controllability was not an issue during landing rollout. This is the fourth write-up of this issue in a few days. This is the second such write-up from this crew. The same event occurred to us on descent...yesterday. This was a reposition flight...following a spoiler panel removal and replacement.
[On the previous flight] we...had an uncommanded 10-degree roll to the right when speed brakes applied during descent. Upon stowing speed brakes; the aircraft rolled left further than 10 degrees with the autopilot. Aircraft was written up twice prior and supposedly fixed. We wrote up this issue. The Number 3 spoiler was removed and replaced... We took off uneventfully and had no issues until descent. This time the roll seemed more exacerbated than before and when stowing the spoilers; the aircraft rolled rapidly left.
B737NG flight crew reported uncommanded roll with autopilot engaged during descent when spoilers/speedbrakes were extended and retracted.