What happened
On June 18, 2014, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A, registration N793BG, crashed while performing a pilot proficiency check at Huntsville International Airport-Carl T. Jones Field (HSV) in Alabama. The flight was being conducted under Part 91 regulations to evaluate company contract pilots.
During the takeoff roll on runway 18R, the pilot-in-command (the pilot proficiency examiner) intentionally reduced the right engine thrust to flight idle to simulate an engine failure after reaching V1 speed. The aircraft successfully rotated and began a climb. However, while at approximately 33 feet of radio altitude and 149 knots, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured a rattling sound consistent with the deployment of the right thrust reverser.
Following the deployment, the aircraft began a progressive right roll. The flight crew exchanged comments expressing confusion about the aircraft's behavior. The EGPWS issued bank angle warnings as the aircraft's right bank increased to approximately 39 degrees. The airplane eventually impacted the ground west of the runway in a nose-low and right-wing-low attitude, resulting in 3 fatal injuries to the crew members.