What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing its final approach for landing. During the critical flare phase of the landing maneuver, the elevator control surface became unresponsive and jammed in place. Unable to use the primary elevator controls to modulate pitch, the pilot maintained control by manually adjusting the elevator trim system to manage the nose attitude throughout the remainder of the descent and touchdown.
The investigation
Following the event, investigators examined the aircraft's flight control mechanisms to determine the root cause of the failure. The examination revealed that a bolt securing an elevator counterweight had backed out from its installed position. This loose hardware physically obstructed the movement of the elevators, causing the jam. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was operating on its first flight after being painted by an outside contractor and undergoing a return-to-service inspection by the operator.
Findings
The primary mechanical failure was identified as a loose elevator counterweight bolt that backed out during previous operations or maintenance activities. This hardware displacement directly resulted in the obstruction of the elevator control surfaces. The pilot's decision to utilize elevator trim allowed for a controlled landing despite the loss of primary pitch authority.
Safety message
This event highlights the importance of rigorous inspection procedures following maintenance and repainting activities. Proper torque checks on critical flight control hardware, such as counterweight bolts, are essential to prevent similar mechanical failures in the future.