Accident Details
During the takeoff initial climb, the aircraft experienced a loss of pitch control due to a separated elevator control cable. The airplane subsequently nosed over during an off-airport forced landing.
Pilot Actions
While climbing out, both pilots observed an increasing nose-high pitch attitude. They each pushed forward on their respective yokes in an attempt to regain control. The aircraft did not respond to the control yoke inputs. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was able to regain control only by retracting the flaps and retarding the throttle. However, no runway remained to effect a landing. The CFI then used engine power to maintain pitch control and set up for an off-airport landing. After the airplane touched down, the nose landing gear dug into the soft ground, causing the aircraft to nose over.
Investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the scene. He removed the empennage inspection panel and found the DOWN elevator cable lying on the floor of the empennage. The safety wire for the DOWN elevator cable had been cut and pulled from the center hole, which allowed the turnbuckle to rotate until it separated from the turnbuckle eye. The other end remained attached to the swaged terminal by two threads. The UP elevator cable turnbuckle safety wire was also cut on the eye side and pulled out of the center hole. The eye remained engaged in the turnbuckle by 19 3/4 turns, and the terminal end remained engaged by 18 1/2 turns. Inspection of the flight control system revealed no further discrepancies.
Maintenance History
A review of the aircraft maintenance records and shop work orders from maintenance facilities that had worked on the airplane indicated no instances of maintenance activity that would have involved disturbing the elevator control cable turnbuckles since November 2000. The last annual inspection was completed 8 months and 75 flight hours prior to the accident. Both the mechanic and inspector who performed that annual inspection reported that the elevator control system was secure at that time.