Accident Overview
A parachute jump flight was operating at 3,700 feet mean sea level when the pilot cancelled the operation with the FAA approach controller without providing an explanation. Witnesses observed the airplane trailing white and black smoke. One witness reported seeing black smoke and hearing a banging sound from the engine.
Witness Observations at the Airport
Three witnesses located at the accident airport stated that as the airplane approached, smoke and flames were emanating from the cowl and along the windshield. They reported that the airplane then banked to the right at a low altitude, and the right wingtip struck the ground. During the collision sequence, the airplane caught fire.
On-Scene Investigation Findings
Examination of the accident site revealed that the engine, left side of the fuselage, bottom of the left wing and its strut, and the horizontal stabilizer and elevator were covered with an oil film. The engine's oil filler tube was missing. The three mounting screws for the filler tube were not located at the site. Two of the three screw mounting holes had two screw threads next to the engine case's exterior surface pulled upward; the third hole's threads were not pulled.
The number 6 cylinder valve rocker arm cover had five of its six screws missing; the remaining screw was loose. The number 6 cylinder's bottom spark plug lead nut was disconnected, and its threads were not pulled.
Engine Examination
About 70 percent of the oil screen was covered by silver and bronze colored metallic debris. Holes were observed on the engine's left crankcase section near cylinders number 2 and 6. The engine's internal components exhibited damage typical of oil loss and heat distress. The fracture face features on the engine's fractured left crankcase section were characteristic of overstress.