Accident Overview
A pilot who had rented an airplane for several days experienced an engine overspeed while descending to land. The overspeed was controlled by reducing the throttle. Shortly thereafter, smoke was observed outside the airplane and in the cabin. The engine then ceased operation, prompting a forced landing onto rough terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
Disassembly of the engine revealed damage consistent with oil starvation. During post-accident inspection, only 1.5 quarts of oil were drained from the engine, which has a normal capacity of 13 quarts. No external oil was found on the engine or the fuselage.
Rental Period Details
The pilot had rented the airplane for nine days and accumulated 22 hours of flight time during that period. There was no evidence that any oil was added to the engine throughout the rental duration.