What happened
During flight near Panama City, Florida, the airplane experienced a catastrophic engine failure. In response to the loss of power, the pilot performed an emergency landing. As the aircraft was in the flare phase of the landing, the left wing struck a utility pole. This impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
An examination of the engine was conducted following the accident. Investigators found that the crankshaft had fractured at the connection rod thrust surface. Specifically, the break occurred adjacent to the front fillet radius of the No. 6 crankpin journal.
Findings
A metallurgical examination determined that the failure of the crankshaft was a fatigue fracture. The fracture occurred at the connection rod thrust surface, adjacent to the front fillet radius of the No. 6 crankpin journal, as a result of high stress. While the fatigue fracture was confirmed, the specific cause of the high stress that led to the fracture remains undetermined.