What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-16) This accident was caused by a damaged control lever(s) attached to the horizontal stabilizer. The specific cause of bending to this part is still undertermined. The most likely cause seems to be strong/gusty winds or jet/prop blast striking the tail assembly from the rear of the aircraft. The control yoke gust lock was functional and utilized. All forces seemed to be focused in the area of the lever assembly. Suspect overload failure caused by fluttering of the horizontal stabilizer against the control linkage. I believe that a resonant frequency may have allowed the part(s) to flex outward and overcome original design specifications. Recommend further engineering study to determine the airworthiness and adequacy of the lever assembly.
As the FAA filed it
(-16) THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A DAMAGED CONTROL LEVER(S) ATTACHED TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF BENDING TO THIS PART IS STILL UNDERTERMINED. THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE SEEMS TO BE STRONG/GUSTY WINDS OR JET/PROP BLAST STRIKING THE TAIL ASSEMBLY FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CONTROL YOKE GUST LOCK WAS FUNCTIONAL AND UTILIZED. ALL FORCES SEEMED TO BE FOCUSED IN THE AREA OF THE LEVER ASSEMBLY. SUSPECT OVERLOAD FAILURE CAUSED BY FLUTTERING OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AGAINST THE CONTROL LINKAGE. I BELIEVE THAT A RESONANT FREQUENCY MAY HAVE ALLOWED THE PART(S) TO FLEX OUTWARD AND OVERCOME ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. RECOMMEND FURTHER ENGINEERING STUDY TO DETERMINE THE AIRWORTHINESS AND ADEQUACY OF THE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.