Incident
Following takeoff from Bourke Airport, the aircraft experienced a failure of its right engine during the initial climb phase. The crew attempted to feather the propeller, but the propeller continued to windmill at 600 revolutions per minute, preventing the feathering action.
Sequence of Events
Due to the high drag resulting from the unfeathered propeller, the captain decided to perform a belly landing in a field located approximately 2 kilometers from the airport. Upon touchdown, the aircraft slid for 125 meters before striking a tree. The impact caused the right wing to separate from the aircraft. Subsequently, the aircraft slid an additional 55 meters before coming to a stop engulfed in flames.
Occupants and Damage
All 13 occupants on board evacuated the aircraft without sustaining injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was that the pilot, having failed to adopt the correct technique for asymmetric flight following failure of the starboard engine on takeoff, abandoned the takeoff in the belief that it was not possible to remain airborne.