Incident Sequence
During cruise flight at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane's engine suddenly jolted and produced a whining noise. The propeller then stopped rotating and moved to a feathered position. The flight crew attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful. An emergency was declared, and the airplane was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 20 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Investigation Findings
The airplane was not recovered for post-crash examination, which prevented investigators from conducting a physical inspection of the propeller system or other components. Based on the available information, the official investigation determined that the probable cause was an undetermined malfunction of the propeller system.