Incident Description
Following lift-off, as the landing gear was retracted, the aircraft began an uncommanded left roll. The pilot applied aileron and rudder inputs and lowered the nose in an attempt to correct the roll. However, the aircraft subsequently rolled to the right and then back to the left. The pilot then executed a landing near the departure end of the runway with the landing gear still retracted.
Investigation Findings
An investigation determined that the aircraft had been loaded to a weight of approximately 12,850 pounds, which exceeded its maximum gross weight limit of 11,500 pounds. Additionally, the center of gravity was estimated to be about 3 inches aft of the aft limit. These loading conditions were identified as having contributed to the control difficulties encountered during the flight.
Operational Oversight
The company director reported that when the cargo shipments were delivered to the company, their weights were not checked prior to loading the aircraft. This failure to verify the weight of the cargo may have allowed the aircraft to be loaded in a manner that exceeded its certified limits.