Positive control checks on powered aircraft?
On gliders, a part of the daily inspection is positive control checks in which all the flying surfaces and airbrakes are operated from the cockpit with someone holding the control surface to reist the movement. The regular assembly/disassembly of gliders that live in trailers must be part of the reason for this, but I wonder how common it is in power flying?
Having flown an R/C model on which I had disconnected the elevator clevis to make an adjustment; then having been distracted, flew the model with the clevis disconnected but pushing on the control horn, I know how easy it is for a visual-only control check to lead one to believe all is ok. Fortunately in the case of the model, pushing on the control horn gave up elevator and it stayed in alignment for the whole flight, so I was able to complete the undulating circuit and land without damage.
There are at least two cases in which pilots have parachuted from their gliders at the top of the winch lauch having discovered their elevators were not properly connected. One glider had had its daily inspection, then had its tailplane removed and refitted by a third party without a note in the logbook or mention to the pilot who was going to fly it.