What happened
The aircraft was operating at a cruise altitude of 2000 feet MSL when the engine suddenly ceased functioning. The pilot immediately began searching for suitable terrain to execute a forced landing. However, no appropriate site could be located in the immediate vicinity. During the subsequent descent and landing attempt, the right wing of the airplane struck a tree.
The investigation
Following the incident, a mechanical examination of the engine was conducted to determine the root cause of the failure. The inspection revealed significant internal damage within the engine assembly. Specifically, the #3 exhaust valve was found to have failed.
Findings
The technical analysis confirmed that the failure of the #3 exhaust valve was the primary factor leading to the internal engine damage and subsequent loss of power. This mechanical failure occurred during cruise flight, leaving the pilot with insufficient altitude and options for a safe landing.