Incident Overview
Shortly after departure, the pilot reported a complete and unannounced engine failure. He maneuvered the aircraft for a forced landing in a field. During the flare, one wing tip struck the top of a tree. As the aircraft rolled to a stop, it traversed several terraces, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear and buckling of the firewall.
Investigation Challenges
An investigation into the event revealed that the aircraft had a documented history of engine failures, two of which had previously led to accidents. The owner, who was aware of this history, refused to grant investigators access to the engine. Consequently, the specific cause of the engine failure that led to this landing could not be determined.