What happened
Following a three-hour layover at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, where no maintenance or refueling took place, a charter flight departed from runway 21. Shortly after the takeoff roll, the pilot declared an emergency, reporting that the aircraft was operating on a single engine. At the time of the radio transmission, the aircraft type was flying at an altitude between 100 and 200 feet above the ground.
The flight continued for approximately six minutes, executing a series of turns including a crosswind, downwind, and a right base leg toward runway 21. During this maneuvering, the aircraft struck trees located roughly 2.5 miles northeast of the airport. The surrounding terrain is characterized by an upward slope from the south toward the north and from the west toward the east. Environmental conditions at the time included winds gusting to 29 knots and a density altitude of 6,870 feet.
Findings
An inspection of the left engine showed no physical evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure. However, the investigation identified significant issues regarding FAA oversight of the operator's maintenance program. Specifically, the airline's approved procedures failed to mandate the maximum rated power checks required by the manufacturer's service instructions. Additionally, the investigation noted that the airline had extended the engines' time-in-service interval from 1,800 to 2,400 hours.