What happened
During a post-maintenance test flight conducted under visual flight rules, the pilot of a multi-engine airplane notified air traffic control of an active oil leak. In response, air traffic controllers provided vectors to assist the pilot in establishing a right base leg for a landing at a nearby airport located approximately 7 miles away.
As the pilot maneuvered toward the destination, they reported that the airport was not visible. Shortly thereafter, the pilot communicated that the engine had failed. Radar tracking indicated that the aircraft's final position was roughly 3.5 miles west-northwest of the runway approach end. However, the wreckage was discovered approximately 4 miles northeast of the runway, suggesting the aircraft bypassed the airport instead of completing a final approach. The pilot failed to perform a timely precautionary landing and subsequently lost control of the aircraft.
Findings
An inspection of the aircraft's left engine identified a broken connecting rod on the No. 2 cylinder. The bearings on this connecting rod showed evidence of heat-related discoloration and distress, which is consistent with a lack of lubrication. While the engine's oil pump remained functional and the gears were found to be lubricated, the investigation concluded that the engine failure was caused by oil starvation. The specific underlying cause for the lack of oil delivery could not be determined.