What happened
During a flight conducted in daylight, the aircraft experienced a failure of the right engine. The failure was caused by a piston assembly breakdown resulting from excessive engine temperatures. Following the engine loss, the aircraft was unable to maintain sustained flight due to additional mechanical complications. Specifically, the main landing gear was stuck in the down position and was non-operational. Furthermore, the propeller was unable to feather because of corrosion on the mechanism.
Upon attempting to land, the aircraft sustained damage. Because the occupants were not wearing seat belts, the pilot and the passenger both sustained serious injuries during the impact. The aircraft was being operated despite the presence of 137 documented mechanical deficiencies.
Findings
Investigations into the engine overheating revealed two primary maintenance errors: the engine air cooling baffle had not been installed, and an incorrect oil filter had been fitted to the engine. The inability to feather the propeller was attributed to corrosion within the assembly.