Incident Overview
A commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91. While in cruise flight at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the engine experienced a total loss of power.
Emergency Response
The pilot promptly declared an emergency and requested vectors to the nearest airport. As the airplane descended, it broke out of the cloud layer at approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot subsequently performed a gear-up landing in a muddy field.
Post-Accident Inspection
An examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured. Multiple fatigue fracture initiation points were identified along the radius of the number 2 crankshaft journal. The engine had accumulated about 998 hours since its last major overhaul.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and wings as a result of the gear-up landing.
Probable Cause Statement
The source explicitly states that the engine crankshaft fractured due to fatigue, with multiple initiation points on the number 2 journal.