Twin-engine aircraft crash into lake after engine failure during takeoff (N52710)

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following the initial climb phase. Shortly after rotation, the right engine experienced a mechanical failure. The flight crew did not manage to feather the propeller on the affected side. This lack of action resulted in increased aerodynamic drag, which caused the aircraft to stall. Consequently, the plane descended and impacted the surface of a lake located in close proximity to the airport. Both individuals aboard the aircraft were successfully rescued from the water before the airframe submerged completely. The aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary cause as the failure of the right engine. While the source text notes that the crew failed to feather the propeller, leading to the stall and crash, the formal probable cause citation focuses specifically on the engine malfunction itself.