What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach and landing when the engine lost power as throttle reduction began. The pilot initiated a forced landing on a roadway that featured a four percent upgrade and a rightward curve. During the rollout phase of the landing, the outboard end of the right wing struck a tree. This impact caused significant damage to the wing carry-through spar.
The investigation
Following the accident, metallurgical testing was conducted on the failed engine components. The analysis focused on determining the root cause of the sudden power loss experienced during the critical phase of flight.
Findings
The examination revealed that the power loss was caused by the failure of the gas producer turbine. This mechanical failure occurred precisely when power was being reduced to begin the initial descent for approach and landing. The pilot's decision to execute a forced landing on the road was a direct response to this sudden engine failure.