Incident Overview
The pilot reported that both engines developed good power during the takeoff roll. After climbing to 8,400 feet, the right engine began missing badly and blue smoke was observed coming from the inboard side of the engine cowling. The pilot shut down the engine and turned back toward the airport. He then decided to restart the right engine, but approximately 20 seconds after restart, the engine seized.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot performed a forced landing to a small field on a heavily forested ridge approximately 2 miles south of the airport. During the landing, both wings were bent and the fuselage was wrinkled.
Aircraft Performance Information
The airplane's Pilot Owners Handbook indicates that the airplane's single engine absolute ceiling is 6,400 feet.
Post-Accident Examination
The salvage/recovery team reported that they found excessive oil on and around the right engine nacelle. The exact cause of the oil system failure was never determined.