What happened
Shortly after departing the airport, the aircraft's engine suffered a sudden loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach a suitable airfield, the pilot initiated an emergency procedure for a forced landing. During the subsequent landing roll, the airplane collided with the surrounding terrain.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough examination of the engine to determine the mechanical cause of the failure. The inspection revealed significant discrepancies in the ignition system's performance. Specifically, the left magneto was found to be firing only one sparkplug. In contrast, the right magneto fired three sparkplugs regularly but exhibited intermittent firing on the fourth plug.
Findings
The analysis indicates that the loss of engine power was directly caused by the malfunctioning ignition system. The left magneto failure resulted in insufficient spark distribution across the cylinders, while the inconsistent performance of the right magneto further compromised engine operation. This combination led to an immediate and total loss of thrust during a critical phase of flight.