Accident Overview
While performing aerobatic maneuvers at 5,000 feet, the pilot and passenger experienced a control malfunction. At the completion of a snap roll, the rudder became jammed fully to the left, and the airplane continued rolling. Unable to regain control, the pilot ordered the passenger to bail out at 3,500 feet. When control remained impossible, the pilot himself bailed out at 2,000 feet.
Parachute Descent and Crash
Both occupants parachuted to the ground without injury. The airplane, now unmanned, descended uncontrollably and impacted the ground. The subsequent examination revealed extensive damage to the rudder, which precluded determination of its operational condition prior to impact.