What happened
The pilot reported experiencing a sudden loss of engine power while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 8,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). Unable to restore power, he initiated an emergency landing procedure. The aircraft touched down in an open area covered with sage brush. During the landing roll, the nose of the aircraft collapsed forward, resulting in a nose-over incident.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the number two piston had failed. The specific cause of this mechanical failure was determined to be unknown. Records indicated that the engine had been overhauled approximately 1,495 hours prior to the time of the accident.
Findings
The investigation identified several key factors contributing to the outcome:
- Loss of power during cruise flight
- Nose-over during the landing roll
- Failure of the number two piston in the engine
- The engine had been overhauled 1,495 hours before the incident