What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot reported that his elevators were frozen at flight level 17,000 feet, advised ATC that he was controlling pitch with elevator trim only. Pilot requested a lower altitude in search of warmer air, ATC declared an emergency for him to allow for a lower altitude, due to air traffic directly below his position. Elevators break loose as aircraft descends below 11,000 feet and pilot regains full control of aircraft and cancels the emergency status. Aircraft continues on to beaver county airport (bvi) and lands without further incident. Investigation revealed that elevator control cables froze up in a puddle of standing water in the tail of the aircraft. A weep hole was cleared of debris and standing water drains properly.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS ELEVATORS WERE FROZEN AT FLIGHT LEVEL 17,000 FEET, ADVISED ATC THAT HE WAS CONTROLLING PITCH WITH ELEVATOR TRIM ONLY. PILOT REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE IN SEARCH OF WARMER AIR, ATC DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR HIM TO ALLOW FOR A LOWER ALTITUDE, DUE TO AIR TRAFFIC DIRECTLY BELOW HIS POSITION. ELEVATORS BREAK LOOSE AS AIRCRAFT DESCENDS BELOW 11,000 FEET AND PILOT REGAINS FULL CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AND CANCELS THE EMERGENCY STATUS. AIRCRAFT CONTINUES ON TO BEAVER COUNTY AIRPORT (BVI) AND LANDS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLES FROZE UP IN A PUDDLE OF STANDING WATER IN THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A WEEP HOLE WAS CLEARED OF DEBRIS AND STANDING WATER DRAINS PROPERLY.