What happened
During an instructional flight, the crew encountered a bird strike while practicing steep turns at approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level. The impact caused significant damage to the horizontal stabilator, rendering it barely operative and severely affecting pitch control.
To manage the resulting severe pitch-up tendency, the pilot applied extreme forward pressure on the control yoke. Additionally, power was reduced to assist in lowering the nose of the aircraft. These combined inputs allowed for a controlled landing despite the compromised flight controls.
The investigation
The primary mechanical issue identified was the damage to the horizontal stabilator sustained from the bird strike. This damage directly led to the loss of normal pitch control authority, necessitating the unusual control techniques used during the approach and landing phase.