Incident Summary
While in cruise flight, the engine lost power, prompting the pilot to elect a landing on a road. As the airplane touched down, the left wing struck brush along the side of the road, causing the aircraft to veer left and turn 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. Witnesses reported seeing black smoke coming from the engine before impact.
Engine Examination Findings
Following the incident, the engine was disassembled for examination. The inspection revealed that the No. 3 connecting rod cap had become detached from the crankshaft assembly, resulting in external damage to the engine. Further examination of the remaining connecting rod assemblies found that they were incorrectly installed; specifically, the nuts were all found with their opposite ends down. Additionally, the No. 2 and No. 4 connecting rod assemblies were found to be loose.