Incident Overview
The accident occurred while the aircraft was in cruise flight. The pilot observed oil on the flying wires and promptly altered course toward the nearest airport. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power, forcing the pilot to seek an emergency landing site.
Forced Landing
The only available area for landing was a field completely surrounded by trees. The pilot initiated an approach to this field. During the approach, the airplane struck the trees, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
Engine Examination
Following the accident, a detailed inspection of the engine was conducted. The examination revealed that the #5 cylinder had separated from the engine while in flight. This separation caused a loss of engine oil, which in turn led to the loss of engine power. The investigation did not identify any other contributing factors.