What happened
Shortly after departing from an airstrip in a wheel/ski equipped airplane, the pilot experienced a loud bang and significant rattling. During the initial climb, the pilot encountered a loss of control effectiveness regarding the rudder pedals. To maintain directional control, the pilot utilized a combination of aileron inputs and limited rudder movement to guide the aircraft back toward the departure runway.
As the aircraft approached the end of the airstrip, it drifted toward the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted a go-around maneuver, but the aircraft subsequently struck a group of trees located at the edge of the airfield. The impact resulted in structural damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage.
Findings
An investigation by the FAA revealed that the right elevator had detached from the aircraft and was found approximately 150 feet behind the main wreckage. The leading edge of the elevator showed damage that would typically be shielded by the horizontal stabilizer.
Inspection of the horizontal stabilizer showed evidence of recent work, specifically new paint on the rivets of the torque tube support assembly. This assembly had been installed at a slight rightward angle. This misalignment caused the right elevator to slip from its center and outboard hinge pins. Furthermore, the hinge pins exhibited signs of excessive wear on their outboard sections. Notably, the aircraft's maintenance logs contained no records regarding the recent repair or replacement of the elevator torque tube support assembly.