20050329005359A

(-23) Two minutes after departing the blakely Island airport enroute to the bellingham airport both engines quit. The aircraft ditched near pt. Lawrence, on the east side or Orcas Island, WA. Both pilot and passenger exited the aircraft and spent about 30 to 40 minutes in the water before rescue. The pilot did not survive. The passenger reported that about 2 minutes after takeoff one or both of the engines started running rough. When asked by the passenger about it the pilot stated it might be water in the fuel and it wouldn't last long. The passenger stated that the engines started running rougher at which point "the pilot reached up to the overhead panel with his right hand to I think transfer some fuel, and then both engines just quit." The day prior to the accident the aircraft was picked up from skagit regional airport after extensive repairs due to a gear up landing in September 2004. The aircraft was fueled at skagit airport, filling the main tanks only, quantity of aux tanks unknown. The aircraft flew 2 trips to blakely Island (approx 20 minutes round trip each). The next flight was the accident flight.