What happened
During the initial climb phase at an altitude of approximately 600 feet, the aircraft's right engine experienced a sudden loss of power. The pilot reported that the aircraft's altitude decreased by roughly 100 feet while maintaining an airspeed of 120 knots. Although the right engine briefly regained functionality for about 10 seconds, the pilot proceeded to adjust power on the left engine and feathered the propeller on the right engine to manage the situation.
As the aircraft's airspeed continued to decline, the pilot was forced to descend to prevent a stall. In an attempt to mitigate the impact of the landing, the pilot deployed the landing gear before touching down in a field. The impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair, though the pilot managed to escape the wreckage with minor injuries.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the aircraft revealed that there were no mechanical malfunctions found within the engine or the carburetor. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was operating within its permitted center of gravity and gross weight limits. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were characterized by a ceiling of 600 feet broken and 1,500 feet overcast, with visibility limited to 3 miles due to light rain and fog. The primary factor in the descent was the loss of engine power during the climb.