C172 with stuck trim elevator declares emergency prior to landing abi.

Attributes
ACN	458759
Time
Date	199912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abi.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 15
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abi.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : vacating altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 509 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	458759
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter other other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : aircraft flight control handling other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On the return trip 10 mi east of abi airport, aircraft was flying wbound heading 270 degrees at 3000 ft MSL at 70 KTS, 20 degrees flaps. Aircraft trim was set for nose high attitude, slow flight. While transitioning to high cruise speed, 2600 RPM was selected, and nose down to level flight commanded and trim tab adjustment was taking place. The elevator trim got stuck and the elevator did also. Aircraft started ascending with the power setting (high). Unable to lower C172/U pitch the next step was reduce power to 2100 RPM. Climb stopped at 3400 ft MSL. Abi approach was contacted on 125.0, assistance was offered. The plan was to land at 6f4. If unable to land at 6f4, abi airport would be used for an emergency landing. Reducing power for landing on 20 degrees flaps a shallow descent was able. Aileron and rudder not affected by trim and elevator malfunction. ATC stayed with till safe landing at 6f4. WX brief, aircraft preflight done by poh. Flight control checked ok prior to flight. Trim tab got stuck after having been used several times. Note: aircraft and elevator control felt heavier than usual on rotation (takeoff) and during flight. Pulling and pushing the yoke and rotating the elevator trim tab was of little help. The good news was we landed without crashing. One more detail: aircraft was within weight and balance envelope -- 3 adults, 1 child, and 3 hours fuel on board on takeoff. Gross weight 2200 pounds, 100.1 moment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 WITH STUCK TRIM ELEVATOR DECLARES EMER PRIOR TO LNDG ABI.

Narrative: ON THE RETURN TRIP 10 MI E OF ABI ARPT, ACFT WAS FLYING WBOUND HDG 270 DEGS AT 3000 FT MSL AT 70 KTS, 20 DEGS FLAPS. ACFT TRIM WAS SET FOR NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, SLOW FLT. WHILE TRANSITIONING TO HIGH CRUISE SPD, 2600 RPM WAS SELECTED, AND NOSE DOWN TO LEVEL FLT COMMANDED AND TRIM TAB ADJUSTMENT WAS TAKING PLACE. THE ELEVATOR TRIM GOT STUCK AND THE ELEVATOR DID ALSO. ACFT STARTED ASCENDING WITH THE PWR SETTING (HIGH). UNABLE TO LOWER C172/U PITCH THE NEXT STEP WAS REDUCE PWR TO 2100 RPM. CLB STOPPED AT 3400 FT MSL. ABI APCH WAS CONTACTED ON 125.0, ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE PLAN WAS TO LAND AT 6F4. IF UNABLE TO LAND AT 6F4, ABI ARPT WOULD BE USED FOR AN EMER LNDG. REDUCING PWR FOR LNDG ON 20 DEGS FLAPS A SHALLOW DSCNT WAS ABLE. AILERON AND RUDDER NOT AFFECTED BY TRIM AND ELEVATOR MALFUNCTION. ATC STAYED WITH TILL SAFE LNDG AT 6F4. WX BRIEF, ACFT PREFLT DONE BY POH. FLT CTL CHKED OK PRIOR TO FLT. TRIM TAB GOT STUCK AFTER HAVING BEEN USED SEVERAL TIMES. NOTE: ACFT AND ELEVATOR CTL FELT HEAVIER THAN USUAL ON ROTATION (TKOF) AND DURING FLT. PULLING AND PUSHING THE YOKE AND ROTATING THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS OF LITTLE HELP. THE GOOD NEWS WAS WE LANDED WITHOUT CRASHING. ONE MORE DETAIL: ACFT WAS WITHIN WT AND BAL ENVELOPE -- 3 ADULTS, 1 CHILD, AND 3 HRS FUEL ON BOARD ON TKOF. GROSS WT 2200 LBS, 100.1 MOMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.