Accident Details
On December 16, 2013, at about 2115 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182T, registration N963CP, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport in Burlington, North Carolina. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was practicing night takeoffs and landings on runway 6, a 6,405-foot-long, 100-foot-wide asphalt runway. After completing two takeoffs and landings without incident, during the third takeoff, as the airplane reached an altitude of about 10 to 20 feet above ground, it stopped climbing. The pilot felt increased resistance on the elevator control, and the airplane did not respond to elevator control inputs, pitched nose-down, and descended. The airplane touched back down onto the runway, then departed the left side and rolled onto the grass. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and nose section.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The Cessna 182T was manufactured in 2007 and had accumulated approximately 1,700 total hours at the time of the accident. The pilot reported 165 hours of total flight experience, including about 23 hours in the same make and model and about 12 hours of night flight experience. The pilot's most recent night currency flight was performed on September 13, 2013.
Maintenance History
The pilot reported a recent history of elevator trim issues, including difficulty controlling the elevator. Maintenance related to the elevator system was performed during the week prior to the accident. Review of maintenance records revealed that on December 9, 2013, maintenance was performed that included removal and inspection of the elevator trim jackscrew. The airplane had been operated for about 7 hours since being returned to service and about 70 hours since its most recent annual inspection on August 29, 2013.
Examination Findings
An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The elevator trim was observed in the normal takeoff position, and the flaps were retracted. Using the elevator trim wheel, the trim was exercised through its complete range of travel. Elevator control cable continuity was confirmed from the yoke to the elevator control surface; however, the inspector noted the cables were loose with rub marks visible on the frame. Impact damage was noted on the forward underside of the airframe, and both pulleys underneath the rudder pedals that guide the respective up and down elevator cables were damaged.
Additional postaccident inspections by CAP maintenance personnel, as of the date of the report, did not reveal any preaccident failures or conditions that would have restricted elevator flight control movement.