Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 69; Flight Crew Total 1880; Flight Crew Type 550
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Picking up an aircraft from maintenance at ZZZ. Upon rotation and initial climb; control forces became heavy and the aircraft tried to deviate right. As the aircraft accelerated after gear retraction and flap retraction; the control forces became stronger to the point that holding a heading became difficult. Autopilot and yaw damper failed to engage. It was required to trim ailerons to the left to an unusual degree to relieve control forces. I contacted Departure and told them that I was having control issues and it was hard to control my heading. Requested return to ZZZ. I stated that I was not declaring an emergency; but I needed to come back as soon as possible. Vectors were given to return. In the process of returning; the control situation seemed to become better; then worse. I informed ATC that my situation was degrading. Priority was given and ATC vectored me around to land. Upon slowing to land I gradually brought the trims to neutral. Upon touchdown the control forces were slightly better; but the imbalance still existed. I vacated the runway; was given taxi permission to the ramp. Upon cleaning up the aircraft I re-checked all of the trim axis and checked the controls for freedom of movement as had been accomplished before departure. All control forces appeared normal. All checks on controls and auto-pilot were satisfactory before departure. Aircraft sent to maintenance on the field.
PC-12 pilot reported the Autopilot and Yaw Damper failed during their initial climb resulting in a return to the departure airport.