Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 260; Flight Crew Total 1171; Flight Crew Type 375
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
As I was returning home from flying [aerial survey] I had no issues or weather to avoid. Once I was about 25 miles East of ZZZ I attempted to go around some thunderstorms and work my way into ZZZ. I experienced some turbulence and decided to turn back to ZZZ1. During this time I realized that I could not pitch the nose forward and my elevator seemed unresponsive to my control inputs. I ended up being able to pull the yoke back and pitch up but not able to do the opposite. I was able to control the aircraft using power settings and trim to divert to ZZZ1 and land safely. As maintenance is being done it has been discovered that the battery was not latched in place and thus fell onto the elevator control wire; burning it in half. The rudder control was close to also being burned through. I believe this could have been a much worse situation. I also believe the company I work for does not do adequate maintenance on their aircraft.
Cessna 177 pilot reported that the battery came loose and burned through the elevator cable.