Accident Overview
On April 13, 2022, about 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, registration N7733Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Selma, Alabama. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that immediately after takeoff, he needed significant left rudder input to maintain directional control. After confirming both engines were producing power via the engine monitors, he applied full left aileron and rudder to keep the airplane level. He instructed the pilot-rated passenger to adjust the throttles to turn the airplane back to the airport for a precautionary landing. The crew successfully maneuvered the airplane to land on airport property, but the landing was hard, with the airplane touching down in the grass at a 45° angle to the runway. During the landing, the nose landing gear fractured.
Examination Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector noted that the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane had been painted, and that the flight controls had been removed for painting. Numerous placards were missing or obscured by paint, and painter’s tape remained attached in some areas. The rudder trim system was found significantly out of rig, and inspectors were unable to move the rudder trim tab to the neutral position.
Maintenance Records
The pilot was unable to provide maintenance records related to the rudder removal and reinstallation or a subsequent weight and balance check. Although he indicated that he performed the preflight checklist before takeoff, he stated that he may have skipped checking the control trims, which are part of that checklist.