Flight History
On 26 August 2010, a Piper PA-32R-300 aircraft, registration HB-PRE, departed from Oey in the municipality of Saanen/BE, Switzerland. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft collided with terrain. The report does not specify the number of occupants or their injuries.
Engine Examination
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed corrosion and wear damage to the camshaft and tappet bodies. This damage led to a marked reduction in engine power, preventing the aircraft from gaining sufficient altitude after takeoff. The manufacturer had issued Service Letter L180B addressing known corrosion issues, but these recommendations were not incorporated into the engine maintenance program.
Cause and Contributing Factors
The accident was caused by the aircraft's inability to gain sufficient altitude due to significantly reduced engine performance resulting from corrosion and wear on the camshaft and tappet bodies. Contributing factors included the continuation of the takeoff despite reduced engine power, failure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding known corrosion problems, and failure to integrate those recommendations into the engine maintenance program.