Incident Summary
The pilot and a passenger were aboard an airplane during a flight that lasted approximately 45 minutes before the engine began to exhibit abnormal behavior. According to the pilot, the engine started to run rough, vibrate, and lose power. Black smoke was observed coming from the exhaust, and the pilot estimated that the engine was producing about 25% of its cruise power at that point. Additionally, the right exhaust gases momentarily ignited, but the flames extinguished when the pilot reduced the throttle.
Pilot Actions
Following the partial loss of engine power, the oil pressure gauge indicated 40 psi. The airplane could not maintain altitude, prompting the pilot to initiate a forced landing. The pilot performed a gear-up landing in an open field, and the airplane came to rest upright. No further details about the landing were provided in the source.
Post-Accident Examination
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airplane after the incident. The inspector noted that engine oil had been blown out of the exhaust and down the sides of the fuselage. Despite this observation, the reason for the partial loss of engine power was not determined.
The airplane sustained damage from the gear-up landing, but the extent of damage was not specified. There were no injuries reported in the source.