Incident Overview
A commercial pilot was conducting a non-scheduled air taxi flight under visual flight rules (VFR) from Sarasota-Bradenton Airport in Sarasota, Florida. No flight plan had been filed. During initial climb at approximately 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power.
Emergency Response
The pilot initiated an emergency descent and executed a forced landing back to the departure airport. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a dirt bank on the ground. The airplane was destroyed in the accident, and the pilot sustained serious injuries.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the engine's crankshaft by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory revealed that the crankshaft had failed due to fatigue cracking. The origin of the cracking could not be determined.
Conclusion
The investigation did not identify any additional contributing factors beyond the crankshaft failure. The accident sequence was consistent with a total loss of engine power during a critical phase of flight.