Accident Overview
A pilot was conducting a test flight following recent maintenance on the engines. During the initial climb, the left engine began to surge and subsequently lost most of its power. Air traffic control tower personnel observed heavy black smoke trailing from the left engine and advised the pilot that he was cleared to return to the airport.
Pilot Actions
The pilot initiated a left turn and continued climbing to approximately 600 feet. Believing that the left engine might have been on fire, he then performed a "short approach" back to the airport. The airplane touched down hard in a grass area to the right of the runway, rolled across a taxiway, and sheared off the landing gear before coming to rest.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, the left engine was examined and test run. No abnormalities were noted during these tests.
Pilot Recommendation
On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot suggested that the accident could have been prevented by more frequent single-engine training to maintain proficiency.