Forced Landing
Following an engine failure, the pilot executed a forced landing onto rough and uneven terrain. Recognizing the unsuitability of the terrain for a wheels-down landing, the pilot chose to land with the landing gear retracted. Upon touchdown, the airplane struck brush and slid for 200 feet before coming to a halt.
Damage Assessment
The landing resulted in damage to the left wing tip, the engine cowling, and the right wing. No other damage to the aircraft was noted.
Engine Examination
A postaccident teardown and analysis of the engine was conducted. The examination revealed a fatigue crack that had initiated from a subsurface flaw and propagated through the material. The crankshaft had fractured between the number two and number three main bearing journals, leading to a complete crankshaft failure.