Incident Overview
The pilot of a multiengine airplane reported that after returning to the airport, he entered the traffic pattern and performed a touch-and-go landing. Following an uneventful touchdown, he retracted the flaps, re-trimmed the airplane, and added takeoff power. The airplane became airborne within 5 to 6 seconds, and the pilot retracted the landing gear.
Loss of Engine Power
Soon after the gear retracted, the manifold pressure for the left engine fluctuated, and the left engine RPM began surging. In response, the pilot retarded the power on the right engine, released back pressure, and extended the landing gear to attempt a landing on the remaining runway.
Touchdown and Overrun
The airplane touched down on the hard surface while the landing gear was still in transit. It overran the departure end of the runway, collided with a light stand, and struck some small trees before coming to rest beyond the departure end.
Investigation Findings
The reason for the partial loss of engine power to the left engine could not be determined during the investigation.