What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) While conducting stall tests in phase I for experimental amateur built, up elevator control was lost. Pilot was able to land using elevator trim, aileron and rudder and throttle. Subsequent investigation by FAA maintenance inspector revealed control rod that fastens the two control sticks separated at the elevator turnbuckle attach point. Water was standing in belly, no drain grommets were installed in fuselage. The failure was around a welded tab. Rust was present in ninety percent of the fractured area. The airplane had not been flown in twelve years and had recently been re-certified into a 25 hour phase 1 after the original owner had passed away.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WHILE CONDUCTING STALL TESTS IN PHASE I FOR EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT, UP ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS LOST. PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND USING ELEVATOR TRIM, AILERON AND RUDDER AND THROTTLE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY FAA MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR REVEALED CONTROL ROD THAT FASTENS THE TWO CONTROL STICKS SEPARATED AT THE ELEVATOR TURNBUCKLE ATTACH POINT. WATER WAS STANDING IN BELLY, NO DRAIN GROMMETS WERE INSTALLED IN FUSELAGE. THE FAILURE WAS AROUND A WELDED TAB. RUST WAS PRESENT IN NINETY PERCENT OF THE FRACTURED AREA. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN TWELVE YEARS AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN RE-CERTIFIED INTO A 25 HOUR PHASE 1 AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD PASSED AWAY.