What happened
During an air medical mission involving a pilot and two medical crewmembers, the aircraft began its flight with normal engine start and power-up procedures. Following takeoff and a routine climb to the assigned cruise altitude, the pilot was notified by air traffic control of heavy showers near the destination. In response to the weather, the pilot engaged the engine ice vanes. Shortly after this action, the aircraft experienced two rapid electrical power fluctuations, followed by a complete failure of the entire electrical system.
Operating under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without navigation capability, the pilot attempted to navigate toward better weather based on preflight briefing information. While searching for a descent path through the cloud layer, the left engine lost power. The pilot eventually identified a field through the clouds and performed a single-engine landing off the runway. The impact caused substantial damage to the firewall and the right engine mount.
Findings
Post-accident investigations of the aircraft type and its systems found no mechanical anomalies related to an electrical malfunction. Instead, evidence suggested the electrical failure was likely caused by the pilot accidentally selecting the engine start switches instead of the engine anti-ice switches. This action transitioned the generators into starter mode, removing them from the electrical system and leaving the aircraft dependent solely on the battery. The battery subsequently depleted, causing the total loss of power.
Additionally, the investigation determined that the left engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. At the time of the landing, neither wing tank contained visible fuel. While the aircraft departed with 253 gallons of fuel, the extended flight time required to navigate out of IMC led to the depletion of reserves. The investigation noted that the pilot lacked sufficient fuel reserves for the duration of the flight in IMC. Furthermore, a lack of coordination and communication among the crew during the emergency led to frequent course changes, which prevented the pilot from finding visual conditions before the fuel was exhausted.