Incident Overview
A pilot and passenger were transported to an airport to retrieve the pilot's airplane following the installation of a new Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) unit. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot communicated over the Unicom frequency to a flight instructor that he was experiencing problems with the aircraft's trim and was heading toward Dayton.
Pilot Communications
Prior to contacting the Dayton Airport, the pilot reported that the elevator trim was at full down deflection and that he was struggling to maintain altitude. The instructor inquired whether the pilot had pulled the circuit breaker for the trim system, to which the pilot replied affirmatively. Soon after this exchange, the airplane impacted a farm field in a near-vertical attitude.
GPS and Autopilot Integration
The installed GPS unit, a King KLN 89, was wired to the number one VOR receiver and the autopilot in a configuration that allowed the GPS to be coupled with the autopilot. According to the repair technician who performed the installation, the system was checked on the ground and found to be operational after installation.
Regulatory Compliance
The repair technician did not have the aircraft test flown in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.407(b) prior to releasing it to the pilot. FAR 91.407(b) requires a test flight after maintenance that may have affected the aircraft's flight characteristics or operation.