The airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at about 1415 Eastern time. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After flying in for lunch, the pilot and his passenger attempted to depart. The airplane accelerated and lifted off the runway normally. However, the elevator control was “frozen” and could not be moved. The pilot reduced engine power and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck the runway hard and bounced before coming to rest. Its nose gear collapsed and the firewall was substantially damaged. Examination revealed the nut securing the shock mount to the instrument panel was missing. A portion of the instrument panel had shifted downward, and the directional gyro housing was in contact with a portion of the yoke control rigging.
