HN39, keep in mind that once the fuselage cracks open OR the elevators hit the water drag goes up astronomically. That would tend to further rip things apart as well as bend the tail feathers upwards violently. Now that I think on that visualization I am not sure the tears in the clevis joints would match what is seen on the recovered VS.
I still think it is worth considering. It IS a way to impart a huge upwards force on the joints and perhaps on the rudder itself depending on its position at impact.