NTSB Factual Report

On September 13, 2017, about 0723 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, N836GW, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff at the Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), Nantucket, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident, and was destined for Barnstable Municipal Airport-Boardman/Polando Field Airport, Hyannis, Massachusetts.

The pilot stated that he had completed his routine "takeoff flow" confirmed by the airplane before takeoff checklist, and was then cleared to takeoff. The airplane accelerated to between 90 and 95 knots, and he began to rotate. The airplane achieved a positive rate of climb and the pilot retracted the landing gear; however, after becoming airborne he was fighting with the controls to keep the airplane from a nose-down attitude. The pilot used manual trim and verified the autopilot was not engaged; however, the nose-down tendency continued. He rejected the takeoff and executed an emergency landing on the remaining portion of the runway.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that with the elevator in a neutral position, the elevator trim tab was extended approximately 24° tab trailing edge up (airplane nose-down), and the elevator trim indicator in the cockpit depicted a nose-up trim condition. Further examination of the airplane revealed the elevator trim tab push-pull rod was separated from the actuator, but remained connected at the elevator trim tab. A drilled bolt was recovered from inside the horizontal stabilizer; however, the associated washer, castellated nut, and cotter pin were not located. The elevator trim tab actuator, elevator trim tab push-pull rod, and drilled bolt were retained for further examination.