What happened
While operating on an IFR flight, the pilot was climbing through 5,500 feet when the aircraft suddenly experienced a significant loss of power. The pilot immediately initiated emergency procedures to address the power loss; however, these efforts were unsuccessful in correcting the situation.
Because there was insufficient power available to return to the departure airport, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing on a reclaimed strip mine. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear broke away from the aircraft. The impact caused the aircraft to tip onto its nose and come to rest in an inverted position, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
A subsequent inspection of the engine was conducted following the accident. This examination revealed that the loss of power was caused by damage within the number three cylinder, which resulted from a broken exhaust valve.