Accident Summary
A twin-engine airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted the top of a single-story industrial building and then struck a landscape embankment and trees during an attempted single-engine go-around. The accident occurred approximately 0.5 miles from the airport.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that the left engine failed during the initial climb. He feathered the left propeller and returned to the airport to execute an emergency landing. According to the pilot, he had excessive speed on final approach and overshot the runway. When the airplane was at midfield, he elected to perform a go-around. He did not raise the landing gear, and the flaps remained at about 15 degrees down. The airplane subsequently lost altitude and impacted the terrain.
A witness reported seeing the airplane attempt to land on the runway twice during the same approach, but it ballooned both times before the pilot executed the go-around.
Performance and Configuration
The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) "Rate-of-Climb One Engine Inoperative" chart indicated that a rate of climb of about 450 feet per minute was possible during a single-engine go-around if the airplane was in a clean configuration. The chart also indicated a penalty of 350 feet per minute subtracted from the rate of climb if the landing gear were down, and an additional penalty of 200 feet per minute if the flaps were in the 15-degree down position.
Engine and Maintenance Findings
Inspection of the left engine revealed that the starter adapter shaft gear had failed. Review of the engine maintenance logbooks showed that Teledyne Continental Motors Service Bulletin CSB94-4 and subsequent revisions, including Mandatory Service Bulletin MSB94-4F issued on July 5, 2005, had not been complied with since the last engine overhaul on July 17, 1998. The service bulletin required a visual inspection of the starter adapter every 400 hours. The engine logbook indicated that the engine had accumulated about 1,270 hours since the last overhaul. The service bulletin contained a warning that compliance was required to prevent possible failure of the starter adapter shaft gear and/or crankshaft gear, which could result in metal contamination and/or engine failure.