What happened
On the morning of the accident, maintenance was performed on the aircraft due to an initial engine starting issue caused by water in the fuel. The mechanic and pilot performed several procedures, including purging the fuel tanks, flushing the fuel system, and cleaning the left engine's fuel injector nozzles. Following these actions, ground engine runs were conducted without any issues. To facilitate a maintenance test flight, the pilot obtained fresh fuel from a local fixed-based operator.
After completing a preflight inspection and successful engine run-ups, the pilot departed the airfield with one passenger. During the takeoff phase, the right engine failed to produce full power, preventing the aircraft from maintaining its altitude. With insufficient runway remaining to attempt a return to the landing strip, the pilot executed a forced landing in a field located approximately one mile from the runway. The aircraft struck the ground heavily but remained upright.
Findings
Post-accident investigations found no evidence of water contamination in the engines at the time of the crash. However, the inspection of the aircraft revealed significant evidence of improper and inadequate maintenance regarding the engines and the fuel system. Specifically, the fuel system was found to contain debris from corrosion, and the fuel lines leading to the fuel servo contained very little fuel.
While maintenance had been performed on the day of the accident, the fuel injector nozzles for the right engine were not removed during the process, meaning fuel flow volume likely went unmeasured. It is believed that the act of purging the water from the tanks likely dislodged corrosion debris within the system. This debris was likely moved into the fuel lines during the engine ground runs and the subsequent takeoff attempt, leading to the blockage of fuel lines and the starvation of the right engine.