Accident Overview
During takeoff, the pilot rotated the airplane at a speed below Vmc. As the airplane began to climb, the stall warning light illuminated. The pilot lowered the nose to attain Vyse. Subsequently, the right engine began losing power. The pilot applied full power to the left engine and left rudder, while the passenger retracted the landing gear. The airplane banked to the right and descended to the ground.
Pilot Statements and Preflight Observations
The pilot stated, "The airplane just did not get enough speed up," and suspected that the engine failure resulted from water in the fuel system. During preflight inspection, the pilot and passenger observed "a little bit" of water on the asphalt, which came from the right side fuel drain. After the accident, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the preflight area and did not observe any fuel stains on the asphalt.
Maintenance and Airworthiness Directive Compliance
The airplane was last flown 30 days prior to the accident. An FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) required an inspection at each 50 hours of operation to eliminate water contamination of the aircraft fuel supply. Maintenance records dated after September 16, 1997 did not reveal any compliance with the AD. The airplane had accumulated about 281 hours of operation since that date.
Operator Guidance
The airplane owner's manual stated, "Accelerate to single engine minimum control speed (Vmc) before applying stronger back pressure for rotation" and that "On take-off the aircraft should be kept either on, or near the runway, until reaching Vmc." The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) stated, "If the airplane has just become airborne and the airspeed is at or below Vmc when the engine fails, the pilot could avoid a serious accident by retarding both throttles immediately. If this action is not taken immediately, the pilot will be unable to control the airplane." It additionally stated, "THE AIRPLANE SHOULD NEVER LEAVE THE GROUND BEFORE Vmc IS REACHED. Preferably, Vmc + 5 knots should be attained." The AFH also noted that sufficient fuel should be drained from the fuel strainer and sumps to check for water and other contaminants.