What happened
During the initial climb phase after departing from runway 03 at Rochester City Airport, the aircraft's left engine began to experience a progressive loss of power while at an altitude of approximately 900 feet. In response to the failure, the pilot applied additional power to the right engine and feathered the propeller on the left side.
As the aircraft traveled over the M2 highway at a speed of 100 knots, the pilot intended to execute a return to the airport. However, the right engine subsequently lost power as well. Faced with a dual engine failure, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on the motorway. The aircraft type impacted the ground at 85 knots before coming to a stop. The incident resulted in four injuries, and the airframe was determined to be a total loss.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the primary cause of the engine failures was fuel contamination. It was determined that kerosene had been mistakenly added to a petrol supply at Rochester City Airport. The aircraft had been refueled with this contaminated mixture, which caused internal damage to both engines during operation, leading to the loss of power during the climb.