What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Lost directional control on takeoff. Assymetrical thrust indicated. (.4)the airplane had just been refurbished, and it required a maintenance flight check before being released for flight. The pilot conducted a preflight of the airplane, checking the flight controls for freedom of movement and observing aileron movement up and down, but did not 'see' or notice incorrect aileron movement. The pilot used normal takeoff procedures. During rotation, the airplane's left wing began to drop to the left. The pilot applied right aileron, but with no effect. The airplane struck the left edge of the runway in a left wing low attitude, and the left wing impacted a taxi sign. An examination of the airplane revealed that the aileron cables were incorrectly connected at the turnbuckles in the wheelwell. The aircraft maintenance manual contained the following warning: 'visually check to assure that aileron travel responds properly to the control wheel movement. When the control wheel is turned right, the right aileron should move up and the left aileron should move down.' (-23) aircraft just came out of refurbishment at Raytheon at Rockford. Thi s was the 1st test flight with 3 mechanics on board. A/c departed RR1, at lift off pilot reported heavy left wing (rotate speed 118 mph). A/c drifted left, hit airport directional sign. A/c traveled approx. 1/2 mile before stopping. Left wing & left propeller did hit the ground. Heavy damage to left wing, airport sign cut into the one piece spar, approx. 8" deep cut.
As the FAA filed it
LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF. ASSYMETRICAL THRUST INDICATED. (.4)THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST BEEN REFURBISHED, AND IT REQUIRED A MAINTENANCE FLIGHT CHECK BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR FLIGHT. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE, CHECKING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND OBSERVING AILERON MOVEMENT UP AND DOWN, BUT DID NOT 'SEE' OR NOTICE INCORRECT AILERON MOVEMENT. THE PILOT USED NORMAL TAKEOFF PROCEDURES. DURING ROTATION, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING BEGAN TO DROP TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT AILERON, BUT WITH NO EFFECT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE, AND THE LEFT WING IMPACTED A TAXI SIGN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE AILERON CABLES WERE INCORRECTLY CONNECTED AT THE TURNBUCKLES IN THE WHEELWELL. THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING WARNING: 'VISUALLY CHECK TO ASSURE THAT AILERON TRAVEL RESPONDS PROPERLY TO THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVEMENT. WHEN THE CONTROL WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT, THE RIGHT AILERON SHOULD MOVE UP AND THE LEFT AILERON SHOULD MOVE DOWN.' (-23) AIRCRAFT JUST CAME OUT OF REFURBISHMENT AT RAYTHEON AT ROCKFORD. THI S WAS THE 1ST TEST FLIGHT WITH 3 MECHANICS ON BOARD. A/C DEPARTED RR1, AT LIFT OFF PILOT REPORTED HEAVY LEFT WING (ROTATE SPEED 118 MPH). A/C DRIFTED LEFT, HIT AIRPORT DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A/C TRAVELED APPROX. 1/2 MILE BEFORE STOPPING. LEFT WING & LEFT PROPELLER DID HIT THE GROUND. HEAVY DAMAGE TO LEFT WING, AIRPORT SIGN CUT INTO THE ONE PIECE SPAR, APPROX. 8" DEEP CUT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.