Background
The aircraft had been involved in a previous mishap on January 19, 1980, during which the propeller was damaged. At that time, the engine reportedly had no power and the propeller was windmilling during the landing impact.
Flight and Warning
After taking off, the pilot retracted the landing gear. The gear warning horn sounded. The pilot continued en route while attempting to obtain a safe indication. Approximately 20 miles east of the departure point, the pilot elected to extend the gear and return to the airport.
Engine Failure
During the turn back to the west, a loud banging or knocking noise was heard from the front of the aircraft. About 30 seconds later, the engine completely lost power.
Forced Landing
The pilot located an area of relatively flat terrain among steep mountain ridges and chose to land there. During the landing, the aircraft bounced and slid to a stop approximately 100 feet from the initial touchdown point.
Investigation
A subsequent engine teardown and metallurgical examination revealed that the crankshaft had failed from fatigue at the cheek just forward of the #3 bearing.