What happened
While cruising at 7,000' MSL, the pilot experienced a loss of power in the left engine. In an attempt to manage the failure, the pilot feathered the left propeller; however, the aircraft continued to lose altitude. Unable to maintain flight, the pilot performed a forced landing into treetops.
The pilot noted that throughout the flight, the main landing gear had been "sagging." To address this, the pilot had to move the main gear selector to the "up" position every three to five minutes. This issue was attributed to a slow leak in the hydraulic system, which had been scheduled for repair.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the left engine revealed water and debris within the fuel system, as well as blackened spark plugs.