What happened
During the initial takeoff phase, a multi-engine airplane experienced a complete loss of power in its right engine. In response to the engine failure, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. The aircraft subsequently exited the runway surface and struck rough terrain before coming to a stop in an upright position. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.
Findings
An inspection of the right engine revealed that the magneto distributor drive gears were failing to rotate. Upon disassembling the damaged magnetos, investigators discovered that the nylon distributor gears were missing teeth and showed signs of brown discoloration. Following the incident, the right engine was placed in a test cell, where it was able to start and operate normally after the damaged magnetos were replaced with a slave set.
Investigation into the maintenance history indicated that the right engine had been in service for approximately 8 years and had flown roughly 697 hours since its last magneto overhaul. This exceeded the manufacturer's recommended 500-hour inspection interval. Furthermore, the engine had surpassed the 5-year limit for magneto overhaul or replacement specified by the manufacturer. The discoloration of the drive gears suggested exposure to extreme heat, which is a known indicator that the components require replacement per manufacturer guidance.