What happened
During a ferry flight from Georgia to Massachusetts, the pilot was operating a multiengine aircraft for the first time since purchasing the plane 18 months earlier. While in flight, the left engine suffered a mechanical failure. As the aircraft attempted to maneuver near an airport, its groundspeed dropped from 173 mph to 90 mph, falling below the minimum single-engine control speed. Witnesses observed the aircraft appearing to attempt a landing before it banked to the left and descended into a road located approximately 3 miles east-southeast of the airport.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed a 3-inch by 2.5-inch hole in the left engine crankcase, accompanied by oil streaks on the left gear door, left flap, and the left side of the fuselage. The number 2 connecting rod was found to be fractured and showed signs of heat distress, while the number 2 piston assembly had seized within the cylinder barrel.
Several contributing factors were identified regarding the maintenance and operation of the aircraft. The engines were being operated beyond the manufacturer's recommended time between overhaul limits. Additionally, the aircraft had not been flown since its last annual inspection, which had occurred 16 months prior to the accident. The pilot, who lacked a multiengine airplane rating, had completed a type-specific training course 20 months before the event but had no prior multiengine flight experience.