Not likely a couple Vne dives would cause damage, if performed carefully and in smooth air. As a maintenance test pilot I routinely took aircraft to Vne during return to service flights after any flight control surfaces were replaced. I've also, slightly, exceed Vne per FAA request during flight test of external Mods. This said, Don't recommend it for any other reasons, and it was always done without passengers.

In a flight school environment, I have seen the results of pilots screwing around beyond their or the aircrafts ability. Actually had a renter pilot get a guilty conscience once and confess. He couldn't get to sleep later that evening. He suggested that the aircraft be inspected. Unfortunately, That's not the Norm.

I remember watching a special on the development of the A380. When it came time for the flutter testing and high speed dives the test pilots were not as jovial as they were on previous flights.

True statement. Another one that test pilots dislike is the aft CG tests. Thankfully as a maintenance pilot, all those were above my qualifications and pay grade. I was only issued the small set of brass balls

I knew a test pilot killed along with two others testing the aft CG of the C-23 Shirpa. They got into a flat spin at 10,000’ and couldn’t get out.

Ideally you install a drogue chute for that kind of stuff.

Don't know if they use them on larger airplanes during test flights. I know the crew had personal parachutes. The flight engineer was found close to the door so it was assumed he was trying to bail but couldn't get out if I remember correctly (this was in 1992).

The CRJ had a fatal stall spin test because the drogue deployed but then detached. IIRC one of the pilots may have accidentally pulled the release handle before the deploy handle.

That wasn't a spin test; they don't normally spin test multiengine airplanes. It was a side slip test, I believe in '93. Several things went wrong on that deal.

The original Canadair Challenger business jet also crashed, at Mojave during certification, aft CG flight test... I remember that well as I stopped into Mojave that morning to get gas; about an hour before it crashed.

Wouldn't be surprised of data loggers became the norm at ERAU then every other flight school and renting company.

Personally I've only flown the older Hershey Bar wing Arrows. I can't imagine how many hours some of them had and never an issue I was aware of beyond the old radios sucked. I'm sure the NTSB will check but I'd really like to know if the bolts were properly torqued.