INEXPERIENCED C411 PLT ENGAGES AUTOPLT VICE YAW DAMPER SHORTLY AFTER TKOF AND NOSE PITCHES DOWN IN RESPONSE TO SETTINGS RETAINED FROM THE PREVIOUS APCH.

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I HAD COMPLETED FLT TRAINING IN A C441 SIMULATOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I HAD FLOWN SEVERAL FLTS IN THE R SEAT TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE 441. THIS WAS MY FIRST FLT SITTING L SEAT; WITH AN EXPERIENCED 441 PLT IN THE R SEAT. WE WENT THROUGH THE CHKLIST; HOWEVER; THE CHKLIST DIDN'T HAVE SPECIFIC PRE-TKOF CHK ITEMS. I FAILED TO SET THE AUTOPLT PRIOR TO TKOF. IT WAS SET FOR PITCH FROM THE PREVIOUS APCH. WE DEPARTED AND AT ABOUT 200 FT I WENT TO ENGAGE THE YAW DAMPER; HOWEVER; I FLIPPED THE SWITCH UP INSTEAD OF DOWN. THIS ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT; WHICH CAUSED THE PLANE TO START A DSCNT. AS SOON AS I REALIZED WE WERE DSNDING; I PULLED UP ON THE YOKE AND GOT THE PLANE IN A CLB ATTITUDE. WHEN I REALIZED I WAS FIGHTING THE AUTOPLT; I DISENGAGED IT AND STARTED A CLB. THE SINK RATE WARNING AND TERRAIN WARNING WERE GOING OFF. I THEN REALIZED I DIDN'T HAVE THE FLT DIRECTOR SET PROPERLY AND SET IT FOR A CLB AND ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT. THE CTLR QUERIED US ABOUT OUR ALT; BUT BY THAT TIME WE WERE AT 700 FT MSL AND BREAKING ABOVE THE OVCST. THE 2 PROBS WERE THAT I DIDN'T SET THE FLT DIRECTOR PROPERLY BEFORE TKOF AND ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGING THE AUTOPLT INSTEAD OF THE YAW DAMPER. I WILL MAKE SURE I DO A COMPLETE 'FLOW' FOR PRE-TKOF CHK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FLT DIRECTOR IS SET PROPERLY BEFORE APPLYING PWR FOR TKOF.