Forced Landing and Hard Landing
Approximately 10 to 15 minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported experiencing pitch control problems. He was unable to turn the aircraft and executed a forced landing straight ahead. During the landing, the aircraft touched down hard, causing the landing gear to collapse.
Pilot Observations and Post-Accident Findings
The pilot initially stated that he might have struck a bird, but after the accident, he noted that a bolt on the elevator trim tab linkage was missing. Subsequent examination of the aircraft found no evidence of a bird strike.
Maintenance History
Maintenance records indicated that during the last 100-hour inspection, the rudder, aileron, and elevator cables were inspected, and the elevator bungee housing was inspected with no defects found. That inspection was performed at a tachometer time of 1068.3 hours. The tachometer time after the accident was 1127.74 hours.