What happened
During the takeoff climb, the aircraft entered a sharp right turn and a steep bank, eventually colliding with the ground. Observations from a witness indicated that the aircraft appeared to be traveling at a low speed, noting that the propeller blades on the right engine were clearly visible while those on the left engine were blurred. After the initial turn, the plane flew for approximately a quarter-mile at an altitude of roughly 100 feet before continuing the steep right bank and disappearing from view, followed by the sight of smoke.
Data from GPS tracking revealed that the flight's performance was significantly degraded compared to previous operations. The aircraft reached a much lower maximum speed and experienced the lowest acceleration rate of its seven most recent flights. Specifically, the aircraft was traveling approximately 100 knots during takeoff, which was nearly 20 knots slower than its typical flight profile. The aircraft lifted off from the runway between the 2,000-foot and 3,000-foot markers, failing to utilize more than half of the available runway length.
The impact resulted in three fatalities. Due to the severe disintegration of the airframe during the crash sequence, the specific seating positions of the occupants could not be identified. The crew consisted of the aircraft owner, a co-pilot, and a third individual holding an airline transport pilot certificate.
Findings
Investigation of the right engine's chip detector revealed contamination consisting of white and gray matter along with two ferrous slivers. A critical finding involved the aircraft's rudder assist system, which was designed to provide extra directional control during single-engine scenarios. Although the NATOPS manual requires the rudder assist switch to be set to the ON position for takeoff and landing, the switch was found in the OFF position. Additionally, the rudder boost actuator in the empennage was in the retracted position.
It was noted that the owner had previously experienced flight control issues the prior year and had subsequently opted to fly without the rudder assist enabled. The failure to engage the rudder assist system was a significant factor in the aircraft's handling during the climb.