CHI99LA316

The pilot said it took 2 hours to start the right engine, and during takeoff the right engine lost power. A witness saw the pilot and the airplane on the ramp before the accident. The witness stated that the pilot said the starter was inoperative for the right engine and it would not start the right engine. The witness saw the accident airplane going down runway 10 with the right engine not running. He had a clear view of the first 700 feet of runway 10 and that the right engine's propeller blades were 'stationary' at the '4 and 10 o'clock positions.' He said that the airplane's left engine 'revved' for takeoff and the airplane rolled down the runway. He said that the airplane moved to the right side of the runway during the takeoff roll, that he noticed the airplane's power was reduced, that the airplane was realigned with the runway's centerline, and that the left engine 'revved' up again. Examination of the accident scene revealed three trails were found in the terrain past the paved departure end of the runway leading up to a telephone switching box and a berm.

On August 28, 1999, at 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N6592Y, piloted by a commercial rated pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with objects and terrain during a takeoff from runway 10 (3,862 feet X 75 feet, dry/asphalt) at L. O. Simenstad Municipal Airport, Osceola, Wisconsin. The pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. The personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Lake Elmo Airport, St Paul, Minnesota.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he tried for 2 hours to start the right engine. He stated that he hand propped the right engine, the engine started, the engine "ops ck'd normal", and he taxied the airplane to runway 10. He said he did a rolling take off on runway 10 and rotated at 80 knots. The pilot stated that at approximately 90 mph, the right engine started to lose power and that he tried to land on the remaining runway. The pilot said that he reduced power on both engines to idle. He stated the right engine stopped. He said that there was not enough runway to try to land on and that he executed a go around on the left engine at full power. He said that he "descended to about five feet in ground" [effect] and contacted a telephone switching box past the departure end of runway 10. The pilot said that after the contact with the telephone switching box, he was unable to continue the climb and "set the airplane down in a cornfield." He said that the gear was sheared off, the left stabilizer was damaged, the wings were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled during the contact with objects and terrain.

A witness said that he saw the pilot and the airplane on the ramp before the accident. The witness states that the pilot said the starter was inoperative for the right engine and the starter would not start the right engine. He said that he saw the accident airplane going down runway 10 with the right engine not running. The witness said that he had a clear view of the first 700 feet of runway 10 and that the right engine's propeller blades were "stationary" at the "4 and 10 o'clock positions" during this beginning part of the takeoff roll. He said that the airplane's left engine "revved" for takeoff and the airplane rolled down the runway. He said that the airplane moved to the right side of the runway during the takeoff roll, that he noticed the airplane's power was reduced, that the airplane was realigned with the runway's centerline, and that the left engine "revved" up again.

Three trails were found in the terrain past the paved departure end of the runway leading up to a telephone switching box and a berm. Fence poles, located between the telephone switching box and the point the airplane came to rest, were found bent in the direction the airplane traveled. The attached fencing material was found laying on the ground also in that direction.