Incident Overview
A pilot on a personal IFR cross country flight reported that after approximately 15 to 20 minutes of flight, the left engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot shut down the affected engine and contacted Des Moines Approach for vectors to an airport. However, weather conditions at Des Moines were below minimums, so the controller provided vectors to Cedar Rapids Airport instead.
Approach and Landing
During the approach to Runway 9 at Cedar Rapids, the aircraft encountered an area of heavy rain, which resulted in poor visibility. The aircraft subsequently landed short of the runway, striking approach lights and sustaining substantial damage.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident teardown of the left engine revealed a broken crankshaft. No other contributing factors were identified in the source.