N596WC

On October 15, 1995, at 1350 central daylight time (cdt), a Zodiac CH-600, N596WC, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane impacted the terrain on final approach to a private airstrip near Columbia, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated from a privately-owned airport 10 miles north of Columbia, Missouri.

The pilot reported that he was "coming in to land" and had "started to flare when the airplane nosed over." He was approximately 40 feet above ground level and over the approach end of the runway when this occurred. The pilot said he had no elevator control. Realizing he was "going to crash nose first," the pilot applied full right rudder in an attempt to bring the nose up prior to impacting the terrain. The airplane impacted the terrain at the base of some trees just to the right of the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage found the top elevator control cable had worked its way out of the nicopress oval sleeve fitting which holds the cable in place after running through the top elevator actuator arm. The elevator was found in the full down position. A review of the airplane's logbooks indicated the airplane's last annual inspection was performed November 14, 1994. The airplane had logged 10 hours since that inspection.