Incident Overview
During a banner-towing operation, the aircraft was en route to the staging area to release the banner when the engine unexpectedly accelerated into an overspeed condition. Moments later, the engine lost power and ceased operation. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing, during which the aircraft collided with a utility line.
Engine Examination
Post-incident examination of the engine revealed that the number six-piston arm assembly had broken through the engine case. The engine contained no oil and had seized. Additionally, the engine had undergone recent major repairs prior to the incident.
Circumstances
The event occurred while the aircraft was transitioning to the banner drop zone. The loss of engine power left the pilot with limited options, leading to the forced landing attempt that resulted in contact with the utility line. No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or injuries have been provided in the source material.