What happened
During a flight intended for a pre-purchase inspection, an aircraft failed to gain significant altitude following takeoff. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane reached an altitude of no more than 200 feet above the ground before initiating a shallow turn to the left. The aircraft completed approximately 210 degrees of a heading change before striking a flat field located near the approach end of runway 26.
Observers noted that while the engines appeared to be operating at high power, the aircraft failed to accelerate or climb as expected. The flight characteristics were described as having slow and unresponsive airspeed. At the time of the impact, the landing gear had already been retracted.
Findings
Investigation of the engines revealed that the gas generator sections showed significant rotational scoring, though the power sections showed only light rotational damage. The propellers on both the left and right sides displayed high blade angles and minimal damage to the leading edges.
A critical factor involved the secondary low pitch stops (SLPS), which had been integrated into the aircraft only four days before the accident. While a ground-based check had been performed, no flight check of this system had taken place. Investigators discovered that the SLPS sensors were positioned in the full aft position on their mounting brackets rather than the standard mid-range position. This discrepancy was linked to the installation of an updated SLPS control box that was incompatible with the aircraft's existing wiring.