Incident Overview
A local night flight, intended to conduct a traffic report, experienced an engine power loss while cruising at approximately 1,500 feet above mean sea level. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and the engine continued to lose power. Subsequently, the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees.
Examination Findings
An examination of the engine revealed that it was equipped with a Bendix D3000 magneto, a dual magneto with a common shaft. When the magneto was rotated, no spark was observed. Disassembly of the magneto showed that the cam followers were worn. This wear prevented the cam lobes from contacting the followers, which in turn prevented the points from operating.
Conclusion
The loss of engine power was attributed to the worn cam followers within the magneto, which rendered the ignition system inoperative.