What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(Tty) acft auto dis on climb out, upon landing the right ele was found severely damaged. Merrill, WI. (.4)on climb out at 11,000 feet at 700 feet per minute rate of climb on autopilot, the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a 'rapid vibration in the control yoke.' The pilot reported pitch trim was not available and said he checked the engines for proper operations. The flight landed without further incident. Examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the right elevator and trim tab. The rear trim tab linkage bolt was missing and there was little damage to the yoke or trim tab bushing. Paint transfer marks were found on the trim tab from the elevator. An undersized cotter pin was found in the forward linkage bolt. (-23) see narrative #CHI98LA032
As the FAA filed it
(TTY) ACFT AUTO DIS ON CLIMB OUT, UPON LANDING THE RIGHT ELE WAS FOUND SEVERELY DAMAGED. MERRILL, WI. (.4)ON CLIMB OUT AT 11,000 FEET AT 700 FEET PER MINUTE RATE OF CLIMB ON AUTOPILOT, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT A 'RAPID VIBRATION IN THE CONTROL YOKE.' THE PILOT REPORTED PITCH TRIM WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND SAID HE CHECKED THE ENGINES FOR PROPER OPERATIONS. THE FLIGHT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT ELEVATOR AND TRIM TAB. THE REAR TRIM TAB LINKAGE BOLT WAS MISSING AND THERE WAS LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE YOKE OR TRIM TAB BUSHING. PAINT TRANSFER MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE TRIM TAB FROM THE ELEVATOR. AN UNDERSIZED COTTER PIN WAS FOUND IN THE FORWARD LINKAGE BOLT. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #CHI98LA032
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.