What happened
During an early morning repositioning flight, a cargo airplane experienced a loss of power shortly after departing the airport. The pilot notified air traffic control that one engine had failed and expressed the intention to return to the departure airfield. During the descent, the aircraft struck trees, a wooden enclosure, a chain-link fence, and various shrubs within a residential neighborhood. The impact and a subsequent fire caused significant damage to the aircraft.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included darkness and light snowfall. The aircraft had been stationary outside for five days prior to the flight and had been connected to engine heaters the previous night. While the operator confirmed that no professional deicing services were utilized, the pilot attempted to manually clear all snow and ice from the airframe. Witnesses at the scene noted that the engines appeared to be running poorly, with one observer reporting a lack of engine noise immediately preceding the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage and engine components did not identify any mechanical failures or malfunctions occurring prior to the impact. Although the aircraft was in a right-wing-low descent, the flight did not appear to be out of control. Notably, neither propeller was found in or near the feathered position. According to manufacturer emergency protocols, a pilot experiencing engine power loss should immediately secure the engine, feather the propeller, and turn the fuel selector to the off position, as failure to feather the propeller can make continued flight difficult.
While the right fuel selector valve and panel were found in the off position, investigators could not establish why the pilot did not follow the full sequence of emergency procedures to secure the engine. It remains uncertain whether the pilot's manual snow removal was sufficient or if the ingestion of water or ice contributed to the loss of engine power during the takeoff phase. The investigation could not confirm the exact amount of ice or snow present on the aircraft at the time of departure.