What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot was on a spray run when the aircraft started yawing to the left and pitching down. The pilot had both hands on the stick pulling back to keep from pitching down. The aircraft made several yawing left turns. The pilot noticed the top part of the rudder laying on the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. After several yawing left turns the top half of the rudder came off the aircraft. The pilot was able to gain control of the aircraft and returned to the airport without incident.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT WAS ON A SPRAY RUN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED YAWING TO THE LEFT AND PITCHING DOWN. THE PILOT HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE STICK PULLING BACK TO KEEP FROM PITCHING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT MADE SEVERAL YAWING LEFT TURNS. THE PILOT NOTICED THE TOP PART OF THE RUDDER LAYING ON THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR. AFTER SEVERAL YAWING LEFT TURNS THE TOP HALF OF THE RUDDER CAME OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.