What happened
A flight transporting an aircraft from Grand Junction, Colorado, to Chicago, Illinois, via Denver, encountered multiple mechanical difficulties during its departure from Denver. The mission was a ferry flight for a repossessed aircraft. Shortly after takeoff, the crew found that the landing gear failed to retract despite several attempts by the pilot. Consequently, the decision was made to return to the airport.
During the final approach, the aircraft experienced significant engine performance issues. The pilot reported that the right engine began surging while the left engine failed to increase power. This loss of thrust led to a hard landing on the runway, which caused the left wing to break. Both occupants of the aircraft managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
The investigation into the mechanical failures revealed that the propeller governors and underspeed fuel governor reset arms were incorrectly positioned on opposite sides of the speed lever actuating arms, rendering the speed levers non-functional. Additionally, it was discovered that maintenance personnel had previously opened the landing gear circuit breakers to prevent accidental retraction following a tire blowout three days prior. These breakers remained open during the flight.
The investigation concluded that inadequate maintenance and incorrect installation of propeller governor components were primary factors. Furthermore, the pilot's failure to follow proper checklists and a lack of familiarity with the specific aircraft systems contributed to the inability to manage the engine power loss and the subsequent landing complications.