Incident Sequence
During cruise flight, the aircraft's right engine suddenly lost oil pressure. The pilot observed oil leaking from the engine area and promptly shut down the engine. Due to the airplane's high gross weight, it was unable to maintain altitude on the remaining engine. The pilot performed a forced landing, ditching the aircraft in the ocean. The airplane was not recovered, and the pilot was rescued approximately one day later.
Investigation
The investigation identified three sequential occurrences: loss of engine power during cruise due to a mechanical failure, a subsequent forced landing, and a ditching. The engine failure was attributed to a total loss of oil pressure. The aircraft's performance during the forced landing was hindered by its overweight condition, which exceeded the engine-out capability. The ditching occurred over rough water.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined as: Loss of oil pressure due to unknown circumstances. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the overweight condition of the airplane necessitated by overwater fuel requirements.