B737-900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 181; Flight Crew Type 7395
Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We took off and just after liftoff I felt like the plane was not performing well. We were in a turn and I wasn't sure if it was just the turbulence or if it was actually something wrong. As we leveled the wings I realized that there really was a problem with the plane. It was requiring substantial right aileron to maintain level flight. We leveled off at 15;000 to trouble shoot the problem. After discussing it with maintenance we elected to return to the departure airport. After a smooth overweight landing we were told by maintenance that we had a flap broken and hanging off the back of the wing.
After takeoff; a B737-900 First Officer noted significant right aileron trim was required to maintain level flight after takeoff. The flight returned to the departure airport where a trailing edge flap was found partially detached and hanging off the wing.