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.