What happened
During the climb phase following takeoff, the engine oil pressure on the aircraft dropped to zero, accompanied by an increase in oil temperature. In response to the loss of pressure, the pilot reduced power and searched for a suitable emergency landing site within the rugged mountainous terrain being traversed.
As the engine began to vibrate, the pilot secured the engine and performed an emergency landing in a field characterized by an uneven surface. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, which caused damage to the engine firewall. There were no injuries reported in the incident.
The investigation
An examination of the engine was conducted to determine the source of the oil pressure loss. Investigators found that the number 3 connecting rod bearing had failed due to oil starvation, which subsequently led to the failure of the number 3 connecting rod. Additionally, the number 1 connecting rod bearing had failed as a result of reduced lubrication.
Technical inspections confirmed that the engine contained 7 quarts of aviation-grade lubricating oil. The investigation also verified that the oil pump and the internal oil distribution system were open and operating in a normal fashion. All components were found to be the correct parts for the engine.