What happened
Following a landing at the airport, the aircraft taxied to a fixed base operator to collect a passenger. Prior to the flight, the crew observed rime ice accumulation on the airframe, measuring approximately two inches in thickness. The flight crew attempted to clear this ice manually from the aircraft surfaces. After the aircraft was refuealed, it began its departure from runway 31R, during which time it struck a fence.
Post-accident inspections revealed that various sections of the aircraft were still covered in ice. The investigation noted that both propellers exhibited comparable damage. While the pilots had previously notified the FAA regarding a loss of power in the left engine, the passenger on board stated they observed no such power reduction in either engine during the flight.
Findings
Investigators found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or component failure in the left engine prior to the impact. The presence of significant ice accumulation on multiple parts of the aircraft was documented following the collision.