What happened
Shortly after departing the runway at an altitude of roughly 200 feet, the aircraft's right engine suffered a loss of power. In response to the failure, the pilot feathered the propeller and initiated a gradual left turn intended to bring the plane back to the airstrip. During this maneuver, the aircraft began descending toward a group of large trees. To prevent a collision with the vegetation, the pilot increased the bank angle, but the aircraft subsequently struck the ground with significant force in a nearby paddock located about 1 kilometer from the departure site.
Findings
Investigations determined that the engine failure originated from the jamming of accessory drive gearing, which was triggered by excessive wear inside a magneto. A critical contributing factor was that a required inspection for this magneto, which was overdue by 84 flying hours, had not been performed. Additionally, the aircraft was operating above its maximum authorized weight at the time of takeoff. While the pilot managed to maintain straight and level flight immediately following the engine failure, the combination of the mechanical malfunction and the heavy load prevented a successful return to the runway.