The PA31 is one of the worst single engine performers in the light twin category.
1" of manifold pressure, couple of degrees of bank, position of dead enging cowl flap, even the condition of the paint and props all contribute to the difference between climb, level flight and descent.
Any endorsement process that didn't ram this into the candidate to the point where they had a healthy fear of the machine certainly shouldn't qualify as "not a bad endorsement".
Nothing alerts a pilot more to the limitations of this aircraft OEI, than the VSI whilst holding Vyse and opening the cowl flap.
I feel this pilot may have slipped through the cracks. Cracks that CASA let grow for far too long.
I also feel that this pilot, the organisation he worked for and the culture of GA, probably all saw the endorsement process as a box ticking exercise in order to get a job, not a process whereby you learn things that may one day save your life. If only he'd been trained properly, by a proper aviator who saw the bigger picture and took the time to prepare this young man to operate this aircraft safely. Unfortunately he's now another statistic; another young pilot who didn't make it through GA.
Light twin drivers take note.