Accident Details
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and subsequently collided with trees during a forced landing. Witnesses observed smoke trailing from the airplane just before impact. One witness reported that the engine was sputtering and that they heard several 'bangs'. The airplane turned to align with a clear landing area but clipped the tops of trees and crashed on an embankment adjacent to a dirt road.
Preflight and Takeoff
The owner of a fixed base operator had received flight instruction from a certified flight instructor (CFI) in the accident airplane immediately before the accident flight. No mechanical discrepancies were noted during that preflight check. Approximately fifteen minutes later, witnesses observed the airplane take off on the accident flight and reported that the airplane and engine appeared and sounded normal.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at the scene. A significant amount of oil was found on the right side of the airplane aft of the firewall. The engine had separated from the airframe and came to rest about 15 feet upslope from the main wreckage. Heavy oil deposits were noted on the bottom cylinders and accessories, while the top cylinders were clean. The accessory section of the engine was coated in oil, and the area around the pre-oil port fitting was saturated. The B-nut connecting the oil line to that fitting was found to be only finger tight.
Engine Analysis
An examination of the engine revealed damage and thermal distress signatures consistent with an oil starvation catastrophic failure. No oil was present inside the engine. A maintenance logbook entry indicated that all flexible engine hoses had been replaced 21 hours prior to the accident.