Based on the second part of the story - that sounds like stress from stopping and reversing the aileron roll abruptly and torquing the fuselage. That makes sense!
I would highly doubt the tail would stay attached had they actually done a snap roll (nearly full back stick and full rudder),
I think the co-pilot meant he was really pinning the yoke to one side, abruptly. I don't think he was doing a snap-roll as in proper technique that you would do in an aerobatic plane.
He was clear that he didn't do a nice smooth, slightly pitched up attitude entry to a mellow aileron roll, like Bob Hoover does in non-aerobatic rated passenger planes. He said he was very aggressive and just whipped it around hard.
But yes, the two times he whipped it back the other way is what twisted everything.
Last edited: