What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On Friday, December 3, 1999, at 2330 local, an airnet express (call sign "starcheck"), Beechcraft BE-58 baron, N9044V, returned to land on runway 23 at Buffalo niagara international airport due to an aileron problem. The ARFF responded and the aircraft taxied to the ramp without incident. In a statement given by the director of operations, the following sequence of events transpired: after takeoff, "normal checklist" items were performed. The aircraft was re-trimmed (elevator) for climb. At this time, the pilot noticed that the ailerons were "heavy" with a right rolling tendency. Left aileron trim added with minimal affect. The pilot advised ATC (departure control) of his situation and made a request to return to the field. After landing and releasing controls, controls deflected full right. During "after landing checklist" enroute to the ramp, the pilot discovered that the autopilot roll mode had inadvertently been engaged. The roll control was set in slight right turn. Autopilot was disengaged and controls moved freely to neutral. The autopilot control head is located near the elevator trim wheel. During initial trim after take off, inadvertent contact with roll mode engaged autopilot, causing the situation. This incident is considered closed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1999, AT 2330 LOCAL, AN AIRNET EXPRESS (CALL SIGN "STARCHECK"), BEECHCRAFT BE-58 BARON, N9044V, RETURNED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23 AT BUFFALO NIAGARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DUE TO AN AILERON PROBLEM. THE ARFF RESPONDED AND THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED TO THE RAMP WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN A STATEMENT GIVEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS TRANSPIRED: AFTER TAKEOFF, "NORMAL CHECKLIST" ITEMS WERE PERFORMED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RE-TRIMMED (ELEVATOR) FOR CLIMB. AT THIS TIME, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AILERONS WERE "HEAVY" WITH A RIGHT ROLLING TENDENCY. LEFT AILERON TRIM ADDED WITH MINIMAL AFFECT. THE PILOT ADVISED ATC (DEPARTURE CONTROL) OF HIS SITUATION AND MADE A REQUEST TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. AFTER LANDING AND RELEASING CONTROLS, CONTROLS DEFLECTED FULL RIGHT. DURING "AFTER LANDING CHECKLIST" ENROUTE TO THE RAMP, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE AUTOPILOT ROLL MODE HAD INADVERTENTLY BEEN ENGAGED. THE ROLL CONTROL WAS SET IN SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. AUTOPILOT WAS DISENGAGED AND CONTROLS MOVED FREELY TO NEUTRAL. THE AUTOPILOT CONTROL HEAD IS LOCATED NEAR THE ELEVATOR TRIM WHEEL. DURING INITIAL TRIM AFTER TAKE OFF, INADVERTENT CONTACT WITH ROLL MODE ENGAGED AUTOPILOT, CAUSING THE SITUATION. THIS INCIDENT IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.
Other reports on N9044V · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.