The HAL-manufactured Dornier 228 was operating on a flight from Agathi to Thiruvananthapuram via Cochin. The aircraft took off from runway 17 of Cochin Airport. After attaining a height of about 400 feet it was seen pitching up steeply to a near vertical attitude and thereafter appeared to perform a manoeuvre similar to a stall turn to the right and crashed on the roof top of the Component Repair Shop (CRS) building of the Naval Aircraft Yard. After the impact the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed. Three persons working in CRS received fatal and six other persons received minor injuries. PROBABLE CAUSE: “After take off the aircraft pitched up uncontrollably, stalled fell to its right and crashed. The uncontrollable pitch up was caused by sudden uncommanded downward movement of the Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer leading edge. This was due to partial detachment of its ‘actuator forward bearing support’ fitting due non installation of required hi-lok fasteners. Poor aircraft maintenance practices at Short Haul Operations Department contributed to the accident. “