What happened
On the afternoon of 20th February 2022, a Piper PA 23-250, registered N62670, was performing a private flight departing from Treasure Cay International Airport (MYAT) in Abaco, Bahamas. Shortly after the aircraft departed from runway 14, while climbing at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet, the pilot heard an unusual noise originating from the left engine. This was accompanied by an overspeed indication on the tachometer. Following these indications, the left engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot attempted to fly the aircraft back to the airfield, but the maneuver could not be completed, and the aircraft impacted vegetation roughly 1 nautical mile from the airport.
The investigation
The investigation into the accident was limited in scope. Authorities examined the sequence of events following the takeoff and the mechanical indications reported by the pilot. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was destroyed by a fire that ignited following the impact. Both individuals on board, consisting of the pilot and one passenger, sustained minor injuries and were treated at a local medical clinic.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a powerplant system component failure.
- The failure manifested as an abnormal sound and a tachometer overspeed indication in the left engine.
- The loss of power in the left engine prevented the pilot from successfully returning to the departure runway.