Event Description
The airplane sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and terrain during a forced landing to a field. The loss of engine power occurred in flight after skydivers had been dropped. The pilot reported no injuries.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that after climbing to 11,000 feet, the usual climb rate was not achieved. Before descending, the pilot discovered that the cowl flaps could not be closed. During descent to 6,000 feet, erratic readings on the manifold pressure gauge were noticed. The pilot decided to shut down the engine to prevent further possible damage. The aircraft was flown down to pattern altitude, where another airplane flew in front of the pilot and continued across the airport. The pilot carried on with the landing approach and was about to turn base when the other airplane turned 120 degrees and flew toward him. The pilot eventually made radio contact, informing the other pilot of the engine-out situation. The other pilot acknowledged and headed north out of the area. The pilot then realized that due to high trees, the runway was not reachable. He decided to turn into a cleared area but the right wing struck a tree.
Mechanical Issue
Under mechanical malfunction failure, the pilot stated that the air intake hose had blown off after a backfire.