What happened
Shortly after departing the runway, the aircraft was climbing at 90 knots when the engine and propeller RPM began to overspeed. The pilot attempted to adjust the propeller control, but the RPM did not change. Consequently, the airplane lost altitude and struck trees located near the departure end of the runway.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the wreckage identified that the #6 connecting rod had failed. Investigators found no oil present in the engine, and remnants of a gasket were found where the oil filter converter plate should have been.
The engine had undergone factory remanufacture on May 5, 2000, and had logged approximately 376.2 hours since that date at the time of the accident. An investigation into the engine maintenance records showed that an Airworthiness Directive (AD) regarding the oil filter converter plate gasket had not been complied with since the engine's remanufacture.
Findings
The relevant AD addressed the oil filter converter plate gasket on engines factory remanufactured after April 1, 1999. The directive required the replacement of the gasket before further flight on engines exceeding 50 hours since new, overhaul, or the last gasket/converter plate replacement, with subsequent replacements required every 50 hours of service. Failure to comply with this AD could lead to a protruding or swelling gasket, resulting in the loss of engine oil.