On May 22, 1992, an Aeronca CHAMPION 7CCM (registration N82568) operated by Timothy M. Peters was involved in an aviation accident near Willow, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTING ROD. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH VEGETATION AND THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER ALTITUDE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A FORCED LANDING. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and engine noise while maneuvering low to film wildlife. Unable to find a forced landing area, the aircraft landed in high vegetation and trees, then burned upon impact and was destroyed.
Incident Summary
A pilot reported experiencing smoke in the cockpit and unusual engine noise while maneuvering at low altitude to capture video of wildlife. The engine subsequently stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to locate a suitable forced landing area and executed a landing in dense vegetation and trees. Upon impact, the airplane caught fire and was destroyed.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that after the forced landing, he observed a connecting rod protruding from the engine crankcase. He could not determine which specific connecting rod had failed. The aircraft and engine logbooks were destroyed in the post-impact fire.
Engine Failure
The engine failure was evidenced by a connecting rod that had penetrated the crankcase. The pilot noted that the engine had been making significant noise prior to the power loss. The exact cause of the connecting rod failure could not be established due to the destruction of the logbooks and the aircraft itself.