Incident Overview
On January 21, 2017, at approximately 1445 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 17-30A aircraft, registration N39819, conducted a forced landing in a field near Kidron, Ohio. The airplane was operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 for a personal flight. The pilot reported no injuries, but the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions were present at the time of the flight.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the flight had been airborne for about 40 minutes. While cruising at approximately 2,600 feet above mean sea level, he heard a loud bang, followed by engine shaking and a loss of power. He initially turned toward an airport but determined that the airplane would not reach it. He then selected a field for the forced landing. During the landing, the left wing struck a brush pile, and the airplane subsequently hit a stand of pine trees before coming to rest.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft at the accident site. Substantial damage was noted to the fuselage and wings. The inspector observed a coating of oil on the underside of the airplane and the engine compartment. No oil was present on the dipstick. An internal impact mark was identified on the engine sump, and the nuts securing the vacuum pump appeared loose.
Engine Disassembly
The engine was removed from the airframe and sent to the manufacturer's facility in Mobile, Alabama, where it was examined by the NTSB and representatives from Continental Motors. A visual inspection showed that the crankshaft rotated with great difficulty. Disassembly revealed only a small amount of oil in the sump, along with numerous metal pieces. The oil filter element contained small amounts of metal. The number five rod journal on the crankshaft exhibited heat damage, and the connecting rod had separated from the journal. The number one and two rod journals were dry and heat-damaged; their connecting rods remained attached but showed signs of heat distress.
Maintenance History
A review of engine maintenance records indicated that the engine had been overhauled in December 2008 and had accumulated about 263 hours since that overhaul. The vacuum pump was replaced on December 23, 2016, and had logged only 1.19 hours at the time of the accident.