What happened
Shortly after departing, approximately two minutes into the flight, the pilot observed elevated cylinder head temperatures on the right engine. In an attempt to mitigate this, the pilot opened the cowl flap doors, which resulted in a significant temperature drop of 200 degrees. However, following a subsequent loss of power from the right engine, the pilot decided to shut down the engine. The crew followed emergency protocols to secure the right engine.
Due to the inability to sustain altitude, the pilot performed an emergency landing in a large open field. During the touchdown, the landing gear collapsed. There were no fatalities or injuries reported in the incident.
Findings
Post-accident investigations revealed that the engine cowl flaps on both engines were left in the open position at the crash site. While the pilot had opened them to address the temperature spike, the standard operating procedures for a shut-down engine require the cowl flaps to be closed.
Technical examinations of the right engine's subsystems did not identify any specific mechanical failures or component malfunctions. Furthermore, analysis of the aircraft's performance data indicated that the Convair 240-27 possessed sufficient capability to maintain flight and a climbing attitude using only a single engine.
Following the event, a reexamination of the pilot's type rating in the Convair 240-27 showed that the pilot could not demonstrate adequate knowledge of emergency procedures during the oral portion of the test. As a result, the pilot voluntarily surrendered the type rating to the FAA.