On January 8, 1987, a Cessna 120 (registration N72516) operated by Michael L. Froscher was involved in an aviation accident near Salem, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The total engine failure caused by a broken connecting rod. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft suffered a total engine failure while being ferried to a new location. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field with obstacles, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
What happened
The aircraft was being ferried when the engine failed unexpectedly. The pilot identified the only available landing area nearby, which presented significant hazards including cattle, hills, and trees. Upon touchdown, the pilot applied hard braking to avoid striking trees at the edge of the field. The force of the stop caused the airplane to nose over into an inverted position.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection revealed total engine failure characterized by a large hole in the side of the crankcase. Further disassembly of the engine uncovered a broken connecting rod, which was identified as the primary mechanical failure point.
Findings
The accident sequence was initiated by total engine failure due to internal mechanical breakdown. Contributing factors included the limited options for emergency landing sites and the presence of obstacles in the chosen field.
Probable cause
The total engine failure caused by a broken connecting rod.