What happened
During the takeoff roll and subsequent climb, the aircraft's engines were initially operating at normal power levels. However, as the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 150 feet, the left engine experienced a loss of power. In response to this failure, the pilot feathered the left propeller. Following the procedure to secure the left engine, the right engine also began to lose power.
Unable to maintain the necessary climb attitude, the pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing in a grassy area located at the airport. An inspection of the cockpit following the incident revealed that while the left engine throttle was at full forward, the right engine throttle was positioned in the mid-range. Additionally, the left engine mixture lever was at the full forward position, whereas the right mixture lever was set to the full aft or lean position. Both propeller levers were found in the full forward position.
Findings
Subsequent functional testing of the engines revealed that the left engine initially failed to start. After investigating the fuel system, investigators determined that the left fuel boost pump was defective. This mechanical failure led to the initial loss of power in the left engine during the climb.