CENTERTO, IN, USA
N386G
CESSNA 421C
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT. WHILE MAKING AN ENTRY ON A TRIP SHEET, HE FELT A BUMP & NOTED THAT THE ACFT HAD STARTED TO DESCEND. HE DISENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT & THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN VIOLENTLY.REDUCING POWER HAD AN ADVERSE EFFECT, SO HE INCREASED POWER AGAIN. HE FINALLY LEVELED THE ACFT JUST PRIOR TO IMPACTING IN A FIELD AT CRUISE POWER. THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB CABLES WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN CROSSED BETWEEN THE TAB ACTUATOR & THE PULLEY IN THE TAIL CONE. THE TAB WAS ALSO FOUND FULLY TRIMMED NOSE DOWN. THE ACFT HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN AN ANNUAL INSPECTION DURING WHICH THE ELEVATOR TRIM ACTUATOR HAD BEEN REMOVED, INSPECTED & LUBRICATED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT SINCE THE INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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