Incident Overview
Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's engine began to shake violently. The pilot responded by reducing the throttle to 15 inches of manifold pressure and decreasing engine speed to 2300 rpm. White smoke emerged from the top of the cowling, with a small amount entering the cockpit, and a substantial quantity of "very black" oil flowed from the front of the cowling.
Forced Landing Sequence
The pilot turned the airplane toward the nearest airport. About two minutes later, the engine stopped completely. The pilot then executed a base leg for a highway below. While on final approach, the airplane was overtaking vehicles on the road, prompting the pilot to deviate to the side of the highway. During the landing roll, the nose gear was torn off.
Post-Landing Inspection
After securing the airplane, the pilot observed two large holes on the top, aft portion of the engine casing. Pieces of casing and piston were scattered on and around the engine. A piston rod was found on top of the engine, and a third hole was located at the bottom of the engine casing.
Engine Disassembly Findings
Disassembly of the engine revealed that the number 2 cylinder main bearing had rotated, closing off the oil supply to that bearing. The engine had accumulated 1,464.5 hours since its last overhaul. According to the engine manufacturer, the recommended time between overhauls for this engine is 1,600 operating hours. An oil analysis conducted on December 7, 2001, indicated that wear metals appeared high for the oil time.
Conclusion
The forced landing was necessitated by a catastrophic engine failure, with the subsequent landing roll resulting in damage to the nose gear.