Accident Scenario
On the same day as the accident, during a previous flight, the pilot discovered that the elevator trim adjustment wheel was binding when set to the full airplane nose-up position. He intended to have the airplane inspected by a mechanic after that flight, but upon arrival at the destination, all facilities were closed for the evening. After picking up passengers, he departed for the return flight.
During the approach, as the pilot began to trim the airplane for the landing flare, the airplane pitched up uncontrollably. While attempting to recover, the left wing struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Examination Findings
An examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector revealed that the trim wheel was binding on the instrument panel when the trim was set to a nose-up position. When the trim wheel was removed from the trim system, the remainder of the mechanism was free to move in both the up and down directions.
Background
The airplane owner stated that during a flight three weeks prior to the accident, the pilot had reported difficulty operating the elevator trim.