Accident Overview
On June 13, 2020, at about 1825 central daylight time, a Beech A24R airplane, registered as N444JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Livingston, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he and his passenger departed Covey Trails Airport in Fulshear, Texas, en route to their home airport in De Ridder, Louisiana. While cruising at approximately 7,500 feet mean sea level, the engine began to violently shake, vibrate, and subsequently lost power. The pilot attempted a forced landing at Livingston Municipal Airport (00R), but the airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway, coming to rest upright in a field about 300 yards short of runway 30.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine at the accident site and found that the No. 3 cylinder had separated from the engine crankcase. The cylinder, piston, and fractured connecting rod remained within the engine cowling. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, forward fuselage, and firewall. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harness restraints, and the pilot sustained head and facial injuries.
Several weeks after the accident, the airplane was recovered by unknown personnel to an unknown location. Examination of the engine to determine the failure of the No. 3 cylinder was not possible.
Maintenance Records
A review of the maintenance records revealed the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on July 22, 2019, at a total engine time of 3,555.43 hours and 960 hours since major overhaul. According to the most recent entry in the engine logbook, on March 26, 2020, the engine underwent an oil change at a total time of 3,652.53 hours. The pilot did not return a completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident form (NTSB Form 6120).