Citation V/Ultra/Encore (C560)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
After departing and executing a left hand turn as directed by ATC; I heard and felt a 'pop' noise in the control yoke. I was hand flying at the time and an additional amount of control 'play' was noted. No other vibration or anomaly was detected other than while in level cruise flight with the autopilot engaged; the first officer control yoke listed in a slight left turn direction. Due to gusty crosswind conditions that existed at the departure airport and aircraft gross weight; we elected to continue to the destination airport where runway alignment and prevailing surface winds required less control input.
No additional information was provided in the secondary narrative.
Despite experiencing an unusual popping noise and feeling some slack in the ailerons the flight crew of a CE-560 elected to continue to their destination as superior prevailing wind direction and velocity predicted less exposure to possible handling problems than did those existing at their departure airport.