What happened
During a local maintenance test flight, an experimental light jet experienced a sudden right-wing roll immediately after departing the runway. Witnesses observed the aircraft bank to approximately 90 degrees, resulting in the right wingtip striking the ground. There were no survivors reported in the crash.
Prior to the flight, maintenance had been performed on the aircraft to stiffen the main landing gear struts. This process involved the removal of the main landing gear, which necessitated the removal of a V-bracket that supports the upper torque tube of the aileron control system. During the reinstallation of this system, the aft upper torque tube bell crank was mounted in an incorrect orientation.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the aileron control system was configured such that control inputs in the cockpit produced movement in the opposite direction of what was intended. The mechanic responsible for the reinstallation mistakenly believed there was only one possible orientation for the bell crank on the torque tube.
While the improper installation caused binding within the control system, this issue was noted during post-maintenance inspections. Rather than correcting the bell crank's position, the mechanic attempted to resolve the binding by disconnecting tie rods and rotating the upper torque tube. This specific adjustment reversed the aileron control direction. Because the aircraft was a proof-of-concept prototype, no formal maintenance documentation existed to guide the procedure. Furthermore, a failure to perform or verify a control surface position check during either the maintenance phase or the preflight inspection prevented the detection of the reversed controls.