Loss of Elevator





                The loss of elevator control can be critical to an untrained pilot. The elevator in a fix-winged aircraft allows the aircraft to adjust altitude, up and down. The impact of losing the elevator can cause mid-air collisions, unable to land, and incapable to gain or loss altitude. To a trained pilot, the impact of losing the elevator is very miniscule. With a few steps the pilot can regain control of the aircrafts altitude by using the aircrafts flaps and trim.  “Throughout aviation history, there have been a few accidents due to primary control system failures. In many examples, pilots were able to maintain aircraft control through abnormal power, flap, and trim settings.” (What Can You Do If You Lose Elevator Control?, 2019, Para. 7).
trim uptrim down


The pictures above shows the steps to adjust altitude with elevator failure. To raise the nose of the aircraft, the pilot must apply nose-up trim; this raises the elevator and lowers the trim tab. To lower the nose, decreasing altitude, the pilot will lower the elevator and raise the trim tab.
                There are many strategies used to mitigate aircraft equipment failures. Most pilots conduct preflight checklists, which consist of an all over maintenance check of the aircraft and any potential failures that may occur. A pilot can control whether or not the elevator fails in flight, but the elevator can be checked in preflight. Testing the elevator, raising and lowering flaps, and adjusting the trim can mitigate failure in flight.
References:
·         What Can You Do If You Lose Elevator Control? (2019). Retrieved from https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/systems/is-there-anything-you-can-do-if-you-lose-elevator-control/

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