Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 533; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Aircraft
A student and I were performing maneuvers in the practice area when it became apparent that the elevator control would not move too far past neutral position. I decided to take the controls and head back for our home airport. We made a safe landing using the elevator trim to bring the nose up for flare. There were no injuries or damage to the aircraft.
The reporter stated that morning a Mechanic removed the forward instrument panel to access the INTERCOM unit which had been malfunctioning. In flight the elevator control column locked in neutral position. After landing Maintenance discovered the instrument cooling fan had become dislodged and wedged in the elevator control behind the instrument panel. The reporter did not know if the fan was manipulated during the INTERCOM maintenance.
During a training maneuver; a C-152 elevator became locked forward of neutral so the flight returned to the airport. The instrument cooling fan had become lodged in the elevator control mechanism behind the glareshield.