Flight Purpose
The flight was conducted to break in a newly overhauled engine.
Narrative
The pilot reported flying locally for about 25 minutes when a clank was heard and the engine lost complete power. With no open field available for a forced landing, the pilot anticipated a tree landing. The aircraft struck trees in a nose-high, wings-level, stalled attitude and came to rest approximately 10 feet above ground in a tree.
Engine Examination
Disassembly of the engine revealed that the crankshaft gear had failed. A metallurgical examination determined the failure was caused by high cycle fatigue.
Findings
The engine failure was attributed to the crankshaft gear failure due to high cycle fatigue, resulting in a complete loss of engine power.