On April 29, 1998, a Cessna 210A (registration N9466X) was involved in an aviation accident near Weatherford, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The restricted movement of the elevator control system by a bolt. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During landing, a hard touchdown damaged the propeller and firewall. The pilot reported a stuck control yoke prevented flare. An owner inspection found a bolt catching on tubing; later FAA exam found no elevator control discrepancies.
Incident Overview
During the landing phase, the airplane touched down hard, resulting in damage to the propeller and the firewall. The pilot stated that he was unable to flare the airplane because the control yoke was 'stuck.'
Post-Accident Inspection
Both the pilot and his passenger reported that after the flight, the owner of the airplane inspected the area behind the instrument panel. The owner discovered that a bolt passing through the yoke was catching on tubing located behind the panel.
FAA Examination
Approximately one month after the accident, an FAA inspector examined the airplane. The inspection revealed no discrepancies in the elevator control system.