On March 9, 1985, a Republic RC-3 (registration N6294K) was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Placid, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of a connecting rod bolt, which allowed the connecting rod to penetrate the engine case, resulting in an engine compartment fire. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A loud noise preceded an engine compartment fire in an amphibious aircraft, forcing an emergency landing on a nearby lake where the plane was destroyed after a connecting rod bolt failed.
The pilot heard a loud noise and noticed that a fire had immediately started in the engine compartment. He made an emergency landing on a nearby lake; however, the amphibious aircraft continued burning and was destroyed.
An investigation revealed that the fire had started after a connecting rod bolt had failed and the rod went thru the engine case.
The failure of a connecting rod bolt, which allowed the connecting rod to penetrate the engine case, resulting in an engine compartment fire.