CESSNA 172M SKYHAWK — Maintenance Manual

This document is an AAIB Bulletin detailing an accident involving a Cessna 172M Skyhawk II, registration N9085H. The bulletin provides a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, which occurred shortly after takeoff when the aircraft exhibited a tendency to pitch nose down despite the pilot's attempts to correct it. The investigation revealed that the elevator trim system had been rigged incorrectly during maintenance, leading to the trim tab moving in the opposite direction to the pilot's inputs. The bulletin emphasizes the importance of proper maintenance procedures and inspections, particularly for flight-critical systems, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

• The Cessna 172M Skyhawk II exhibited a nose-down pitch tendency due to incorrect elevator trim installation.
• The elevator trim system's misassembly was identified as a critical factor in the accident.
• The pilot had not flown for several months prior to the incident, increasing the difficulty of managing the aircraft's unexpected behavior.
• The investigation highlighted the need for duplicate inspections of flight-critical systems after maintenance.
• The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair, emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance procedures.