What happened
During a training flight intended to prepare a pilot for a multiengine instructor certificate, a multiengine aircraft experienced significant power issues. The crew reported that the left engine failed to develop full power during the takeoff phase. As the aircraft proceeded to the downwind leg of the closed traffic pattern, it became unable to sustain flight.
The instructor pilot recognized that the engine had lost power; however, he did not feather the propeller, choosing instead to rely on the manifold gauge to monitor the engine's condition. The instructor then executed a forced landing in an attempt to return to the departure runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft impacted the terrain with a 15-degree nose-low attitude and a 45-degree left bank. The pilot did not attempt to flare before impact. The aircraft was destroyed following a post-crash fire. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
The investigation into the engine failure was inconclusive, as investigators found no cause for the power loss in the left engine.