Incident Summary
Aircraft N36CA experienced a left engine power loss approximately eight minutes after takeoff, during the climb to cruise. The pilot transmitted on unicom that an engine was lost and the aircraft was returning. A warning horn was audible in the background. The aircraft did not return, prompting the airport manager to alert the sheriff and initiate a search. The aircraft was located about one hour after departure.
Sequence of Events
The forced landing was conducted in a flat, wings-level attitude with 22° of flaps extended. Initial impact occurred in an area of approximately 8-foot-high brush. The aircraft traveled 595 feet on a heading of 140° from the initial impact point to its final resting position. The pilot's son later reported that the pilot shut down the right engine in flight, resulting in a total loss of power on both engines.
Injuries and Damage
All three occupants were injured. The pilot was restrained by a lap belt and harness but struck his head on the copilot's control yoke during the accident. The left engine turbine blade had failed due to fatigue.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause findings include: loss of engine power (total) due to mechanical failure/malfunction during climb to cruise. Specific findings were: fatigue failure of a turbine blade in the left engine; the pilot performed a wrong engine shutdown; the pilot had inadequate training in emergency procedures; the turbine blade failed totally; propeller feathering was not achieved; and the pilot's emergency procedure performance was poor. The forced landing occurred during descent/emergency, and the aircraft collided with terrain during landing flare/touchdown, with high vegetation as a contributing condition.