Accident Overview
The pilot executed a gear-up forced landing in a harvested cornfield following a loss of engine power. The airplane contacted a barbwire fence before coming to a stop.
Pilot Actions
Prior to the flight, the pilot added one quart of oil and strained the fuel tanks. During the climb, while passing through 4,700 feet on the way to 5,500 feet, the engine began sputtering and shaking. The pilot switched fuel tanks and adjusted the mixture, propeller control, and throttle. He reported that the manifold pressure was indicating in the high 20s and that he was unsure whether the engine was running. The airplane was at 3,700 feet and descending at about 1,000 feet per minute. The nearest airport, according to his GPS, was 9.8 miles away. After evaluating his options, the pilot chose to land in an area he described as a "big black nothing."
Landing Gear
The pilot lowered the landing gear, but it did not engage in the down-and-locked position. He considered using the emergency extension hand pump but decided to focus on flying the airplane.
Aircraft and Engine Details
The engine was a Continental IO-470-E, serial number 77543-O-E. It had 1,259.28 total hours when it was overhauled on June 30, 1971. The last logbook entry listing time since major overhaul (SMOH) was dated October 29, 2002, showing 1,237 hours SMOH. The total time on the airplane at the time of the accident was 2,591.69 hours.
Post-Accident Inspection
Post-accident inspection revealed that it was difficult to turn the propeller by hand. There was a large amount of oil on the bottom of the engine cowling, and no oil was found on the dipstick. The source of the oil leak was not determined. Further inspection showed that the crankshaft was broken between the number 2 and number 3 cylinders.