SEA95LA004

While descending to land and banking to the right, the elevator partially separated from the airplane and impinged upon the rudder. The rudder was jammed to the full right position and aircraft control was rendered impossible. The pilot attempted to land the airplane after all attempts to regain control were unsuccessful. During the landing, the airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the elevator hinge attach fitting weld had corroded from inside and failed.

On October 7, 1994, about 1800 hours Pacific daylight time, N2064, a Monocoupe 110 Special airplane, operated by Frederick E. Ludtke, Sr., Freeland, Washington, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into trees in Langley, Washington. The forced landing was precipitated by a flight control malfunction while descending. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight departed from Everett, Washington, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot, the airplane's rudder jammed into a full right deflection while the pilot was descending through 5,000 feet mean sea level and banking to the right. According to the pilot, "the result was a snap rolling entry into a right spin with the right rudder pedal in the full forward limit of travel." The pilot attempted to control the airplane by applying various levels of engine power and available flight controls. Full aircraft control could not be regained by the pilot. The airplane continued to descend in a bank and a "dramatic skid." The pilot stated that he decided to "slow the airplane down" and settle into trees. The airplane impacted trees and was substantially damaged.

Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator hinge attach fitting had separated, allowing the elevator to partially detach from the airplane. An examination of the attach fitting revealed that the weld had failed. Corrosion was observed inside a void between the elevator hinge attach fitting base plate and the mating horizontal stabilizer spar.