Flight Details
A commercial pilot with 1,684 hours of flight time, accompanied by a pilot-rated passenger who had recently purchased the twin-engine airplane, departed on a 385-nautical mile cross-country ferry flight to the airplane's new home base. The pilot conducted a detailed preflight inspection and a 15-minute run-up before takeoff.
Engine Power Loss
Approximately 25 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 2,500 feet, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected not to secure the left engine because he perceived it was still producing some power. Instead, he decided to return to the departure airport. During the return flight, the right engine also experienced a partial loss of power.
Forced Landing
Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot selected an adjacent hay field as a forced landing site. He cleared powerlines short of the intended landing area and executed a normal landing on the hay field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a 2-foot berm or terrace in the field, causing the nose landing gear assembly to collapse.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed the presence of fuel in the fuel tanks. However, water and corrosion were found in both the left and right side gascolators.