Accident Overview
On April 20, 2018, at approximately 1700 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-220T aircraft, registration N8404B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clewiston, Florida. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, after an uneventful flight, he intended to practice landings at the destination airport. Following a full-stop landing, the pilot taxied back to the end of the runway for another takeoff and remained within the traffic pattern, planning a touch-and-go landing. After touchdown, he retracted the flaps and advanced both throttles to takeoff power. Shortly thereafter, the pilot felt the airplane yaw to the right and observed an overboost indicator light for the right engine. Control was lost as the airplane exited the right side of the runway.
The pilot reported that he regained control when the aircraft entered the grass. He reduced both engines to idle power in an attempt to stop; however, the airplane impacted the edge of a crossing taxiway, became briefly airborne, and landed on the opposite side of the taxiway. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The fuselage and right wing sustained substantial damage.
Witness Report
The pilot-rated passenger seated in the front right seat reported that the airplane touched down slightly to the right of the runway centerline. He observed the pilot retract the flaps and immediately push both throttles to the "wall." Both engines spooled up rapidly, and both engine overboost lights illuminated.
Engine Examination
Examination of both engines, including their respective turbochargers, overboost valves, and wastegates, revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. A complete report of the engine examinations is available in the public docket for this accident.