UNCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN: FAILED FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM
This type accident is now very rare, but it is possible to have a mis-rigged, unresponsive, or even a jammed flight control.
Often the aircraft is still controllable to some extent in this condition but it warrants declaring an emergency and asking for all available assistance. Your return may be without incident, and it may not be.
SOLUTION:
The best measures against this unfortunate scenario in flight are to take good care to prevent it on the ground. Proper and frequent airframe inspections of all control systems are required at each annual for GA planes, and more often than that in other cases. Make sure that your maintenance shop has your instructions to complete thorough inspections.
Also make proper pre flights before each flight for any conditions that might be detectable just by observing and moving controls on the ground. Objects that fall off the plane, doors that come open, panels that are not secure can all lead to dramatic in-flight problems.
Be very observant and prevent flight problems before you fly.
SAMPLE ACCIDENT REPORT:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: Maintenance personnel’s improper lubrication of the right direct aileron control cable and failure to detect the severe corrosion of the cable during a maintenance inspection, which resulted in the in-flight failure of the cable, the pilot’s subsequent inability to maintain aircraft control, and the airplane’s impact with terrain. NTSB Accident Number: ERA12FA484.