# SDR 2026FA0000806

- Type: Service difficulty report (as reported; unverified)
- Difficulty date: October 1, 2026
- Submitted: October 1, 2026
- Operation: General aviation
- Aircraft: [N5352R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5352R), registered now
- Make and model: Cessna 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Aircraft serial: 17252882
- System (JASC): [2730 · Elevator Control System](https://openairdocs.org/jasc/2730)
- Part: Torque Tube
- Condition: Sheared
- Location: Zone 300
- Stage of operation: IN
- How discovered: V
- Nature of condition: O
- Precautionary procedure: K
- FAA source: FAA Service Difficulty Reporting System (https://sdrs.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/sdr/2026FA0000806

## Discrepancy

UPON COMPLETING A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, NOTICED SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE METAL SKIN THAT RUNS OVER THE CONNECTION POINTS BETWEEN THE HORIZONTAL STAB & ELEVATOR. THE DAMAGE IMPLIED AN OVEREXTENSION OF THE ELEVATOR IN SUCH A WAY WHERE THE METAL SKIN IMPACTED THE CONNECTION & DENTED THE METAL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE GAP & LIMITATION IN ELEVATOR MOVEMENT OF TRAVEL DISTANCE. THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY PRESENT ON  RT SIDE OF ELEVATOR WHILE LT SIDE WAS NORMAL WHICH ONLY ADDED TO THE STRANGENESS. COULD NOT DETERMINE AT THE TIME THE REASON FOR THE DAMAGE. A & P COULD NOT MAKE IT OUT,   DECIDED NOT TO FLY THE PLANE DUE TO THE UNKNOWN RISK OF HAVING DAMAGED INTERNAL COMPONENTS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELEVATOR TORQUE TUBE HAD NEARLY COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE ELEVATOR INFLIGHT. REASON FOR THE DAMAGE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AS OUR CONTROL LOCK WAS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF MY ARRIVAL AND NO OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSE SITUATIONS WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THIS TYPE OF SITUATION.

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