Accident Summary
A pilot reported that while conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from West Palm Beach, Florida, to Atlanta, Georgia, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing on Interstate 75. During the landing, the left main wheel struck a car. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, the right wing struck a utility pole.
Investigation Findings
The subsequent investigation revealed that the engine failure was due to a mechanical issue. The crankshaft rear main bearing had failed, which blocked the oil supply to the piston connecting rod. This led to the engine seizing.
Engine Information
At the time of the accident, the engine had accumulated 1772.9 hours of total operating time. The manufacturer's recommended overhaul time for the engine is 1600 hours.