Citation II/SP (C551)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 134; Flight Crew Total 7680; Flight Crew Type 2000
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
Immediately after rotation the pitch trim forces on the aircraft required nose up trim. When nose up trim was applied a nose down pitching force was encountered. Upon further application of up trim a more pronounced nose down force was encountered. Both the pic and sic applied back pressure on the control column to overcome the nose down tendency. A close in flat pattern was flown and the aircraft landed uneventfully.Maintenance had rigged the trim actuator on the tail backwards. Neither the shop technicians nor the flight crew caught this error until a flight was attempted.In future this pilot will perform a full flight control and trim control check of any aircraft coming out of maintenance personally.
Pilot of Cessna Citation II reported the pitch trim was functioning in opposite direction to intended input.