Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to feather the failed engine propeller. A factor was: power loss for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, the right engine on the air taxi flight lost power at about the time the airplane crossed the departure end of the runway. The pilot said he had retracted the landing gear and had initiated propeller feather. The airplane landed wheels up in a corn field approximately 140 feet from the departure end of the runway and 400 feet to the right of the runway centerline. Visual examination of the propeller provided no evidence of propeller feathering and the propeller control was found in the full increase rpm position. The pilot said he refueled the airplane at the airport the day before the accident and suspected fuel contamination. Fuel samples were submitted to three different and independent laboratories. No anomalies were reported. The engine was partially disassembled and examined. No discrepancies were noted.
Source record
Factual narrative
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