The airplane sustained minor damage during the initial climb at about 1830 Eastern time. The airline transport pilot and a student pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the airline transport pilot (ATP), the student pilot had just completed a touch-and-go. When the ATP took control of the airplane to demonstrate a maneuver, he noticed there was very little resistance from the stabilator. He then checked all trim settings, trimmed the airplane for climb and continued to fly the traffic pattern. There was little resistance from the stabilator, but the ATP was able to land the airplane without incident. Subsequent examination revealed that the “cable assembly-stabilator control, aft, lower,” (p/n 62701-153) was fractured. The unit was forwarded to the NTSBs Materials Laboratory for further examination.
August 16, 2007, New Bern, N.C., Piper PA-44-180
The airplane sustained minor damage during the initial climb at about 1830 Eastern time. The airline transport pilot and a student pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the airline transport pilot (ATP), the student pilot had just completed a touch-and-go. When the ATP took control of the airplane to demonstrate a maneuver, he noticed there was very little resistance from the stabilator. He then checked all trim settings, trimmed the airplane for climb and continued to fly the traffic pattern. There was little resistance from the stabilator, but the ATP was able to land the airplane without incident.
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane sustained minor damage during initial climb due to a stabilator control issue, though the airline transport pilot and student pilot were uninjured and landed safely.
- The pilot skillfully landed the aircraft despite noticing a significant lack of resistance from the stabilator control after taking over from the student.
- Subsequent examination revealed that a fractured "cable assembly-stabilator control, aft, lower" was the cause of the control malfunction.
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