Narrative:

Upon completion of very short flight, it was determined that the aileron controls were rigged backwards. I was sent to functional check several aircraft after maintenance. Aircraft was released from maintenance. I did preflight the aircraft in the hangar where aileron movement and proper attachment was examined. (Outside) I am unable to see control wheel movement from the exterior of the aircraft. I again did control wheel check in the hangar and prior to flight. I did use checklist. I do recall seeing left aileron movement. I am unable to see right from the left seat. My mistake was that I 'looked' but did not 'see' (notice) incorrect aileron movement. The incorrect direction did not register in my mind. My mistake can be attributed to the good WX conditions for flight, a diminishing daylight window, and the need for the aircraft to get to paint shop to make a customer delivery. This was a single pilot flight and I have a majority of flight time in this aircraft as a single pilot (approximately 90%). My personal corrective action is quite obvious, to always check complete condition of aircraft. As I typically do, but did in fact miss this dangerous control movement. I made a mistake that will forever be a part of my aviation future. I realized that I almost didn't have a future and I will continually use caution in the future. I am prepared to openly admit my fault as to educate others who may or could find themselves faced with certain obstacles and or constraints affecting their flight and or their job. I perceived 'correct' aileron movement based on my past experience and respected the maintenance work performed and this is a 'human error' that I will never forget and always be responsible for.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TEST PLT OF A BE1900 DISCOVERS THAT THE AILERONS WERE RIGGED SO THE CTLS WERE REVERSED. SHORT FLT TO 30 FT OF ALT.

Narrative: UPON COMPLETION OF VERY SHORT FLT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AILERON CTLS WERE RIGGED BACKWARDS. I WAS SENT TO FUNCTIONAL CHK SEVERAL ACFT AFTER MAINT. ACFT WAS RELEASED FROM MAINT. I DID PREFLT THE ACFT IN THE HANGAR WHERE AILERON MOVEMENT AND PROPER ATTACHMENT WAS EXAMINED. (OUTSIDE) I AM UNABLE TO SEE CTL WHEEL MOVEMENT FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE ACFT. I AGAIN DID CTL WHEEL CHK IN THE HANGAR AND PRIOR TO FLT. I DID USE CHKLIST. I DO RECALL SEEING L AILERON MOVEMENT. I AM UNABLE TO SEE R FROM THE L SEAT. MY MISTAKE WAS THAT I 'LOOKED' BUT DID NOT 'SEE' (NOTICE) INCORRECT AILERON MOVEMENT. THE INCORRECT DIRECTION DID NOT REGISTER IN MY MIND. MY MISTAKE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE GOOD WX CONDITIONS FOR FLT, A DIMINISHING DAYLIGHT WINDOW, AND THE NEED FOR THE ACFT TO GET TO PAINT SHOP TO MAKE A CUSTOMER DELIVERY. THIS WAS A SINGLE PLT FLT AND I HAVE A MAJORITY OF FLT TIME IN THIS ACFT AS A SINGLE PLT (APPROX 90%). MY PERSONAL CORRECTIVE ACTION IS QUITE OBVIOUS, TO ALWAYS CHK COMPLETE CONDITION OF ACFT. AS I TYPICALLY DO, BUT DID IN FACT MISS THIS DANGEROUS CTL MOVEMENT. I MADE A MISTAKE THAT WILL FOREVER BE A PART OF MY AVIATION FUTURE. I REALIZED THAT I ALMOST DIDN'T HAVE A FUTURE AND I WILL CONTINUALLY USE CAUTION IN THE FUTURE. I AM PREPARED TO OPENLY ADMIT MY FAULT AS TO EDUCATE OTHERS WHO MAY OR COULD FIND THEMSELVES FACED WITH CERTAIN OBSTACLES AND OR CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THEIR FLT AND OR THEIR JOB. I PERCEIVED 'CORRECT' AILERON MOVEMENT BASED ON MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND RESPECTED THE MAINT WORK PERFORMED AND THIS IS A 'HUMAN ERROR' THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET AND ALWAYS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.