What happened
The incident occurred immediately following departure while the aircraft was in the climb phase. The right engine experienced a sudden loss of power and subsequently failed. In response to the emergency, the pilot initiated a left turn to attempt an emergency landing on a nearby beach. However, the aircraft was unable to reach the intended area and instead impacted a coconut tree before coming to rest in a clearing within a swamp.
During the crash sequence, the starboard wing struck the palm tree, causing the airframe to slew around. The pilot sustained injuries, specifically a head wound and scalp laceration, while the five other occupants on board remained unhurt. Following the impact, the aircraft caught fire and was damaged beyond repair.
Findings
Investigation into the event revealed that the immediate cause of the engine failure was fuel system contamination. Although the pilot had drained both fuel tanks for water prior to takeoff, residual water remained in one tank. This water contamination led to the misfiring and subsequent power loss of the right engine shortly after liftoff.