Incident Overview
The aircraft was preflight-checked and the engine contained ten quarts of oil. After takeoff, while climbing through approximately 1,000 feet mean sea level, the propeller revolutions per minute increased toward the redline. The pilot reduced power and initiated an emergency landing.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
During a turn toward the airport, the engine stopped operating. The aircraft subsequently collided with trees and crashed as the pilot attempted to land in an open field about four miles from the airport.
Post-Crash Examination
Examination after the crash disclosed a ruptured oil hose, part number 63901-26, that led from the oil pump to the oil cooler. The hose had a life expectancy of eight years and had been manufactured in 1974. No record was found indicating the hose had been replaced since its original installation on the engine.