Duchess 76
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 1700
Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
I was the flight instructor and the pilot in command of a BE-76; however I was the pilot not flying. My commercial multi-engine student was the pilot flying. After completing the run up and Pre-Takeoff Checklist; my student requested right closed traffic from Runway 27R. Immediately after takeoff my student reported to me that he is having difficulty holding the back pressure for the climb. I immediately declared 'My Controls' and took control of the aircraft. From this point forward; I was the pilot flying and my student was pilot not flying. I quickly realized that the issue was related to the elevator trim control and noticed that the elevator trim wheel is rotating loosely. At this point I was still in the upwind Runway 27R. Immediately after; I contacted the Tower and requested a landing clearance as I could not keep the aircraft climbing. Tower issued me a landing clearance on any runway. I declared to Tower that I would like to land on Runway 17 as it seemed the safest choice. I landed the aircraft safely; smoothly; and normally on Runway 17 and no damage of any kind (to the best of my knowledge) occurred as the result of this landing. The aircraft Mechanic verified this fact. Also; no bodily injury of any kind occurred to my student or me at any point during this flight.
A BE-76 student had difficulty holding back pressure to climb after takeoff; so the instructor took control; declared an emergency and land safely where a disconnected elevator trim was found.