Incident Overview
The pilot of the aircraft had just completed a climbout and was adjusting the trim for level flight when the airplane began vibrating. Reacting promptly, the pilot landed the aircraft immediately.
Post-Inspection Findings
A subsequent examination revealed that a portion of the elevator servo tab had separated from the aircraft. Further inspection of the remaining section of the servo tab showed that there were cracks present in its trailing edge.
Maintenance Observations
The director of maintenance reported that when the aircraft was parked, the tail was approximately 10 to 11 feet above the ground. This height, according to the director, would have made it difficult to inspect the tail area during a preflight check.
No other anomalies were reported during the examination.