What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating during cruise flight at an altitude of 11,000 feet. At this time, the pilot observed a significant loss of engine power along with an oil pressure reading of zero. The crew attempted to divert to the closest airport, but the airplane was unable to make it to the runway.
A forced landing was subsequently executed in a corn field. During the impact, the nose gear collapsed under the stress of the landing. Post-accident inspection revealed a broken rod on the number 2 cylinder.
The investigation
Post-accient examination of the engine components identified a mechanical failure within the internal assembly. Specifically, inspectors found that a connecting rod on the number 2 cylinder had fractured. This structural failure likely led to the immediate loss of oil pressure and subsequent engine power loss observed by the pilot prior to the forced landing.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this event include:
- Loss of engine power due to internal mechanical failure
- Zero oil pressure indicating catastrophic lubrication system breakdown
- Broken rod on the number 2 cylinder as the root cause of the engine stoppage
- Inability to reach a suitable airport for a controlled landing