What happened
During flight in instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot of a twin-engine piston-powered airplane declared an emergency due to the failure of the right engine. After securing the malfunctioning engine, the pilot received vectors from air traffic control to perform an instrument approach at the closest available airfield. The pilot completed the approach and landed the aircraft with the wing flaps in the retracted position, noting that the runway was visually acquired at approximately 500 feet above the ground.
The aircraft touched down on the initial third of the 3,500-foot runway at a speed of 120 knots. Recognizing that the remaining runway length was insufficient to stop the aircraft at that speed, the pilot proceeded with the landing rather than attempting a single-engine go-around in IMC. Following touchdown, the airplane exited the runway at the departure end, where it struck a berm. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse and resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Findings
Post-accident inspection of the engine showed catastrophic damage indicative of oil starvation and detonation. Specifically, damage to the No. 5 cylinder suggested an over-pressurization of the crankcase, which likely forced the crankshaft nose seal out and led to a rapid loss of oil. Evidence of a fractured connecting rod and high-temperature signatures supported the conclusion of oil starvation. No external source or anomaly for the initial detonation was found.
While the pilot's decision to commit to the landing was consistent with the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) guidance regarding single-engine go-arounds, the investigation concluded that the landing was conducted without flaps at an excessive speed, which contributed to the runway overrun.