Primary finding
Probable cause
A missing elevator control assembly attachment bolt, which rendered the elevator control system ineffective and resulted in a loss of pitch control, and the pilot’s incorrect installation of the elevator control assembly.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot, who was also the owner and builder of the airplane, reported that, while on short final, he lost elevator control and was unable to control the airplane's pitch. The pilot continued the landing, but he was unable to flare the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane bounced once and then came back down on its nose. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the attachment bolt for the elevator control assembly was missing. The airplane manufacturer's maintenance instructions called for two washers and an elastic stop nut to secure the elevator assembly attachment bolt. It is likely that the pilot did not properly install or secure the hardware used to attach the bolt, which allowed it to release in flight and rendered the elevator control system ineffective and led to the subsequent loss of pitch control. The airplane had accumulated a total time of 48 hours.
Source record
Factual narrative
On December 31, 2012, at 1230 Pacific standard time, an experimental Kaufmann Vans RV-10, N104BK, experienced a loss of elevator control on short final, and the airplane subsequently landed hard on runway 30L at the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot/owner/builder operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The flight departed from the Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, about 1030, with an intended destination of VGT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed; however, the pilot was using flight following.According to the pilot, the airplane was in Phase II of his Operating Limitations; the airplane had approximately 48 hours total time. The pilot reported that on short final, he lost elevator control, but still had aileron control. The pilot was unable to flare the airplane for landing, which landed hard, bounced once back into the air, and then it came back down on its nose. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the attachment bolt for the elevator assembly was missing. Vans aircraft maintenance instructions calls for two washers and an elastic stop nut to secure the elevator assembly attachment bolt.