Narrative:

On a part 91 VFR personal flight for the purpose of recreation and lunch; myself and my two eldest sons age 2 and 3 years old; experienced a malfunction of the flight controls. I departed with intentions to fly to a nearby airport to eat lunch. After performing a normal pre-flight; and run-up; all with normal checks; I was cleared to depart runway 33. The engines made good consistent power; and the take off roll was uneventful; as I broke ground and began my climb I noticed the right wing seemed 'heavy' and I dialed in a little more aileron trim. I was then given vectors to fly 360 to make way for departing traffic. I suspect I was less than 400 feet AGL at this point. I continued to notice a right heavy wing and recognized I had a problem. I was still on tower frequency and told tower; 'I'm coming back in.' tower asked if I was having a problem and at that point I was fully aware that my control yoke inputs to control roll were ineffective. I said yes; I was having a problem and I declared an emergency. I was cleared for a right downwind for runway 33 and was cleared to land. I maintained control of the aircraft using rudder input; and aileron trim; and found I was able to satisfactorily control the aircraft. I was prompted for souls on board; answer 3 souls; and fuel remaining; 6 hours. I indicated to the tower that I was having a control issue. I was cleared direct to the numbers and was prompted to turn base. I replied I'm trying. I indicated I may pop into the bravo airspace to alert them that if I needed the space I would take it. The tower asked if I was having trouble turning the aircraft; and I responded that I would be radio silent but I had it under control. The tower requested radio silence to help. I had the aircraft under-control using differential power and rudder. I was stable and the plane was responding well. Several minutes later tower reported winds to be 290 at 6 knots; gusting to 13 knots. The runway was clear of all traffic and I was cleared to land. The landing was uneventful and (if I do say so myself one of my best) I touched down; rolled briefly and easily made taxiway foxtrot. Tower offered me to go to taxiway golf; but I said I'd take foxtrot; and made it without further problem. I indicated I was going back to taxiway tango; and I was in need of no further assistance. I thanked the tower and transferred to ground. I later learned that; without my knowledge; an effort had been made to 'investigate' the steps required to install a dual control yoke; including unbolting the single control yoke by removing the press fit cover; the cotter pin from the castellated nut; unscrewing the nut; and pulling the control yoke to some degree reward to disconnect it from inside the throw-over bearing and the control wheel sprocket. The positioning key was displaced which caused the inability for the control yoke to turn the sprocket with sufficient force; and thereby move the chain and all the parts afterward that connect to the ailerons. (I have since found the positioning key on the floor of the aircraft.)

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE50 departed normally but immediately after takeoff the pilot experienced the aircraft's aileron control inoperative; so he declared an emergency and returned to land where he discover the aileron yoke control disconnected.

Narrative: On a Part 91 VFR personal flight for the purpose of recreation and lunch; myself and my two eldest sons age 2 and 3 years old; experienced a malfunction of the flight controls. I departed with intentions to fly to a nearby airport to eat lunch. After performing a normal pre-flight; and run-up; all with normal checks; I was cleared to depart Runway 33. The engines made good consistent power; and the take off roll was uneventful; as I broke ground and began my climb I noticed the right wing seemed 'heavy' and I dialed in a little more aileron trim. I was then given vectors to fly 360 to make way for departing traffic. I suspect I was less than 400 feet AGL at this point. I continued to notice a right heavy wing and recognized I had a problem. I was still on Tower frequency and told Tower; 'I'm coming back in.' Tower asked if I was having a problem and at that point I was fully aware that my control yoke inputs to control Roll were ineffective. I said yes; I was having a problem and I declared an emergency. I was cleared for a right downwind for Runway 33 and was cleared to land. I maintained control of the aircraft using rudder input; and aileron trim; and found I was able to satisfactorily control the aircraft. I was prompted for souls on board; Answer 3 souls; and Fuel remaining; 6 hours. I indicated to the Tower that I was having a control issue. I was cleared direct to the numbers and was prompted to turn base. I replied I'm trying. I indicated I may pop into the Bravo airspace to alert them that if I needed the space I would take it. The Tower asked if I was having trouble turning the aircraft; and I responded that I would be radio silent but I had it under control. The Tower requested Radio Silence to help. I had the aircraft under-control using differential power and Rudder. I was stable and the plane was responding well. Several minutes later Tower reported winds to be 290 at 6 knots; gusting to 13 knots. The runway was clear of all traffic and I was cleared to land. The landing was uneventful and (if I do say so myself one of my best) I touched down; rolled briefly and easily made Taxiway Foxtrot. Tower offered me to go to Taxiway Golf; but I said I'd take Foxtrot; and made it without further problem. I indicated I was going back to Taxiway Tango; and I was in need of no further assistance. I thanked the Tower and transferred to Ground. I later learned that; without my knowledge; an effort had been made to 'investigate' the steps required to install a dual control yoke; including unbolting the single control yoke by removing the press fit cover; the cotter pin from the castellated Nut; unscrewing the nut; and pulling the control yoke to some degree reward to disconnect it from inside the Throw-over bearing and the Control Wheel Sprocket. The positioning key was displaced which caused the inability for the control yoke to turn the sprocket with sufficient force; and thereby move the chain and all the parts afterward that connect to the ailerons. (I have since found the positioning key on the floor of the aircraft.)

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.