What happened
Shortly after rotation and liftoff, the Cessna aircraft experienced a loss of power in its left engine. While the plane initially achieved a positive rate of climb, it began to yaw toward the left after passing over 30-foot-high power lines. The flight path took the aircraft over a lake located in a mountain valley. As the aircraft traveled approximately 2 miles from the runway, observers noted dark smoke emitting from the left engine, which intensified as the flight progressed. The aircraft then entered a steep left bank with the wings perpendicular to the ground before entering a vertical nose-down descent. The landing gear remained in the extended position throughout the entire sequence.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the left engine revealed black, sooty top spark plugs. A technical examination determined that the left turbocharger turbine wheel shaft had fractured and separated. Although high-temperature exposure caused extreme oxidation that obscured the specific failure mode, the presence of such oxidation indicates the fracture happened while the turbocharger was operating at high temperatures. The fracture pattern did not suggest a ductile torsional failure, which would typically occur during a sudden rotor stoppage. No mechanical issues were found with the right engine. The investigation noted that the period during takeoff acceleration—specifically between 87 KIAS and 106 KIAS—is the most critical window for engine failure, as performance is significantly degraded during this phase.