Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed during an attempted forced landing following an in-flight fire that occurred during cruise flight. The pilot was reportedly flying the airplane to an airport to have maintenance performed on the right engine due to a boost problem.
Sequence of Events
A work order found for a transient airplane indicated that work had been performed on the right engine turbocharger system about one month before the accident. The wastegate oil filter was found clogged and collapsed, and it was cleaned, straightened, and reinstalled. The pilot operated the airplane with a right engine boost problem. Evidence of this problem included the previous work order, an excessive amount of runway used during takeoff, reported smoke from the right engine after takeoff, and the airplane not climbing as expected after takeoff.
Due to the reduced power from the right engine, the pilot was required to apply left brake to maintain directional control during takeoff. This was evidenced by a blued left brake disk with metal transfer into the relief holes and slots. As a result of the pilot using left brake during takeoff, a fire erupted in the left wheel well and spread to the aft fuselage. Sooting, fire, and heat damage were found in the wheel well, the carpet above it, and the aft fuselage. The fuselage immediately behind the baggage compartment had extensive fire damage, including blistered paint on the upper surface and a two-foot square section of the left fuselage skin that was burned away. The burned area was in the vicinity of the hydraulic fluid reservoir, which was not found; only the steel filler neck, mounting screws, and cap remained. No evidence of fire was found within the right main landing gear wheel well or in the engine compartments.
A witness reported seeing the airplane flying south and trailing smoke, then banking to the left, making a complete circle before descending and impacting the ground.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the pilot's intentional operation of the airplane with a known engine boost problem, resulting in the improper use of brakes to maintain directional control during takeoff, the brake system fire, and the loss of control for undetermined reasons during the emergency landing. A factor was the loss of engine power due to a restricted wastegate filter.