Emergency Landing on Highway After Right Engine Issues (N446M)

Incident

Following takeoff from Ellington Air Force Base, the flight crew informed air traffic control of technical difficulties with the right engine. They decided to return for an emergency landing, but the captain subsequently determined that a return to the airfield was not feasible. An emergency landing was attempted on Interstate 45. The aircraft executed a belly landing, sliding for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots evacuated without injury, but the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the accident was caused by a right propeller overspeed, which forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. Contributing factors identified include: issues with the powerplant propeller and accessories; foreign materials affecting normal operations; inadequate maintenance and inspection; failure to follow approved procedures; inadequate preflight preparation; an improperly loaded aircraft; improper emergency procedures; an intentional wheels-up landing; suspected or known aircraft damage; metal chips in the propeller; the propeller being feathered; the aircraft being overweight by 1,129 pounds; failure of the normal landing gear extension system; and contact with wires.