Cyclic - it was 90 degrees to the right to check TR rigging in low speed (below 30 kts) auto, but you are right, it wasn't very comfortable
Myra - agreed, if he was doing the same confined area departure as in the 139 he would have an extra load on the TR by being cocked off to the left in order to keep the LS in sight - but why the removal of that yaw input at TDP would then cause a failure escapes me.