Incident Sequence
During the landing, the pilot began to preflare about 500 feet from the landing threshold. Applying backpressure to the elevator produced no response, and additional back elevator had no effect. Approximately 20 feet above the runway, the pilot added power to arrest the descent, but the airplane remained nose low. Further power application raised the nose, causing the airplane to climb. By then, the pilot estimated being 1,500 to 2,000 feet down the runway. Perceiving a lack of elevator control and considering a go-around risky under those conditions, the pilot elected to land despite likely damage. Reducing power, the airplane touched down on the nose wheel and began to porpoise. On the third bounce, the nose wheel collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
After the incident, the pilot removed the rear cabin panel and found the elevator cables loose and sagging. Checking the cables to the tail cone, they appeared intact and connected. A post-accident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would account for the loss of elevator effectiveness. However, during the repair process, maintenance personnel discovered one pulley that would not move, and another pulley on the firewall exhibited scratch marks. No cable or pulley wear was observed. One of the pulleys in the elevator control system was attached to the engine firewall.