What happened
Approximately two minutes after takeoff, while climbing to about 1,000 feet above ground level, the aircraft's engine suddenly seized. The pilot was forced to glide the aircraft onto a nearby frozen lake for an emergency landing.
The investigation
A mechanical inspection of the aircraft revealed that it did not have a current annual inspection at the time of the accident. Records indicated that the last recorded oil change had occurred during the annual inspection on July 15, 1981. A subsequent teardown of the engine confirmed severe internal damage caused by a lack of lubrication. Specifically, connecting rods numbered one through four were found to be burned out and broken at the crankshaft ends.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was engine failure due to lack of lubrication. The absence of a current annual inspection and the expired oil change history contributed directly to the mechanical failure.