Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 1150; Flight Crew Type 800
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
We took off and at 70 feet AGL; the airplane stopped climbing. I took the airplane from my student and tried to put the airplane down on the remaining runway; but the elevator was fighting me; and I had reduced control over the elevator. At this point; at 110 KTS; I decided that the safest choice was to fly and deal with the situation as an inflight emergency. We were climbing at less than 110 KTS; with the RPM normal; but with sluggish (at best) elevator control. We reached 300 FT; declared an emergency; and landed safely on [the right runway]. Upon examination; it appeared that two of our elevator cables had snapped. Because of the reduced ability to control elevator tab angle; when I pitched down; speed built significantly because I could not flare; which is interesting to know carrying forward.
Reporter stated that elevator trim was not adjusted due to the possibility it might exacerbate the situation. Reporter believes that the cables viewed in the tail section behind the rear passenger seats may have been electrical in nature. Maintenance could find nothing wrong with the aircraft.
C172 instructor experiences an elevator anomaly shortly after takeoff (70 FT AGL) with his student flying. The aircraft stops climbing and and the instructor takes over and attempts a landing on the remaining runway unsuccessfully. Instructor then decided to deal with the issue as an inflight emergency. With good power but sluggish elevator control the aircraft is maneuvered to a safe landing on the longest runway.