What happened
During a scheduled maintenance test flight following repairs to the right wing, the Piper aircraft, registration N3554p, experienced a sudden loss of control. The flight was being conducted to verify the integrity of recent work performed on the wing structure. Shortly after the aircraft departed the ground, the pilot was unable to stabilize or recover the plane, leading to a ground impact.
There were two people on board during the incident, and both occupants sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash.
Findings
An investigation into the aircraft's control systems following the accident identified a critical error in the assembly of the aileron mechanism. While the mechanic had followed the Piper service manual to reassemble the right wing aileron control cables, the post-accident inspection determined that the cables were reversed on the aileron bellcrank. This error caused the ailerons to move in the same direction—either both up or both down—whenever the control wheel was turned, preventing the pilot from executing necessary rolls to maintain flight stability.