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A C172 instructor pilot flying with the aircraft's owner on a training flight found a jammed elevator when they leveled in the training area. As the aircraft returned to the departure airport the obstruction broke loose freeing the elevator for a normal landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 870306 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201001 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Elevator |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Instructor Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35.6 Flight Crew Total 3300 Flight Crew Type 89 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
I was acting CFI in a C172P privately owned and operated by the owner. Run up; control check prior to flight was normal. Take off was initiated and climbed north to 1500 ft to practice area. Student leveled off at 1500 ft MSL. I noticed the aircraft still climbing at 200 FPM. I watched as the student tried to trim nose down with no result. I assumed control of aircraft and noted there was no forward movement of the yoke possible. I returned towards the airport. I gently experimented and noted positive up elevator. I entered pattern and was able to normally control aircraft with power. Just before turning base a slight pitch up was noted and forward pressure on yoke broke loose any obstruction. A normal landing ensued. Airplane was taken directly to a mechanic and an explanation of events relayed to him. My guess is that some object in the tail cone vibrated aft during climbout and restricted movement of bell crank.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C172 instructor pilot flying with the aircraft's owner on a training flight found a jammed elevator when they leveled in the training area. As the aircraft returned to the departure airport the obstruction broke loose freeing the elevator for a normal landing.
Narrative: I was acting CFI in a C172P privately owned and operated by the owner. Run up; control check prior to flight was normal. Take off was initiated and climbed north to 1500 FT to practice area. Student leveled off at 1500 FT MSL. I noticed the aircraft still climbing at 200 FPM. I watched as the student tried to trim nose down with no result. I assumed control of aircraft and noted there was no forward movement of the yoke possible. I returned towards the airport. I gently experimented and noted positive up elevator. I entered pattern and was able to normally control aircraft with power. Just before turning base a slight pitch up was noted and forward pressure on yoke broke loose any obstruction. A normal landing ensued. Airplane was taken directly to a mechanic and an explanation of events relayed to him. My guess is that some object in the tail cone vibrated aft during climbout and restricted movement of bell crank.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.