What happened
While operating in a VFR traffic pattern, the pilot experienced a partial power loss while on the downwind leg. The pilot reported that immediately after entering the downwind leg, the landing gear was lowered. As the aircraft's airspeed decreased below 132 knots, the pilot attempted to compensate by advancing the throttles, but there was no engine response.
During this period, the pilot noted a sudden indication of 3200 RPM on the right propeller. The RPM eventually recovered to 2700. Having lost a significant amount of altitude, the pilot moved all controls forward in an attempt to recover; however, the aircraft provided only a partial response and subsequently collided with trees.
The investigation
A post-accident investigation conducted by the FAA and the manufacturer was performed. This examination failed to reveal any malfunctions or abnormalities within the aircraft's systems.