Accident Overview
The pilot of a multiengine airplane was conducting his first flight in the aircraft, having purchased it about 18 months prior. The flight originated in Georgia with a destination of Massachusetts. En route, the left engine failed. The airplane then maneuvered near an airport, with its groundspeed decreasing from 173 mph to 90 mph—13 mph below the minimum single-engine control speed.
Witness Account and Impact
A witness reported that the airplane appeared to be attempting to land when it banked left and descended to the ground. The airplane impacted on a road approximately 3 miles east-southeast of the airport.
Engine Damage
Examination of the left engine revealed a 3-inch by 2.5-inch hole on the top of the crankcase, with oil streaks present on the left gear door, left flap, and left side of the fuselage. The number two connecting rod was fractured and heat distressed, and the number two piston assembly was seized in the cylinder barrel.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The airplane had accumulated about 30 flight hours in the six years prior to the accident and had not been flown since its most recent annual inspection, performed about 16 months before the accident. Both engines were being operated beyond the manufacturer's recommended time between overhaul limits.
The pilot did not possess a multiengine airplane rating. He attended an airplane type-specific training course about 20 months before the accident. At that time, he reported 452 total flight hours with no multiengine experience.