What happened
The aircraft was conducting a touch-and-go maneuver when the right engine ceased operation at an altitude of approximately 50 to 100 feet above ground level. The pilot elected to execute a forced landing in an open field located near the airport rather than attempting to reach a runway aligned with the takeoff path, which was less than three miles ahead. During the emergency sequence, the landing gear was not retracted, and no attempt was made to restart the right engine. Additionally, the right engine was not feathered, and the pilot executed a 145-degree turn toward the inoperative engine.
The aircraft touched down with the landing gear extended but the flaps retracted. Upon impact, both main landing gear assemblies separated from the airframe. The flight instructor aboard noted that he had set the fuel tank selectors to the inboard tanks prior to the final approach or the one preceding it and did not adjust them again before the incident.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed significant discrepancies in the fuel system configuration. The left fuel tank selector was found positioned correctly on the inboard tank, but the right fuel tank selector was set to the OFF position. Furthermore, the crossfeed control was also in the OFF position, preventing fuel transfer from the left side to the right engine. When investigators manually corrected the fuel system settings and placed the aircraft on a flatbed for testing, both engines operated satisfactorily, confirming that the mechanical systems were functional prior to the event.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident included the improper positioning of the right fuel tank selector and the crossfeed control. The decision to turn toward the dead engine at low altitude, combined with the failure to feather the propeller or attempt a restart, exacerbated the situation. The resulting gear-up landing caused substantial damage to the main landing gear components.