Accident Details
On June 13, 2021, at approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Boeing B75N1 Stearman airplane, registration N777JG, was substantially damaged during an accident near Elwood, Nebraska. The pilot, who was the sole occupant and owner of the aircraft, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that while cruising at about 1,000 feet above ground level, a loud bang emanated from the engine, followed by severe vibration. He reduced throttle to idle, but the vibration intensified. Applying full throttle made the engine run more smoothly initially, but power began to diminish, and the aircraft could not maintain altitude. The engine lost all power during the base-to-final turn approximately 0.75 miles from the runway at an altitude of 200 feet above ground level. The pilot performed a forced landing into a cornfield. During the landing, the landing gear dug into soft dirt, causing the airplane to nose over. This resulted in substantial damage to the upper left wing and struts.
Engine Examination
A partial disassembly of the engine revealed that the master rod, which connects a piston to the crankshaft, had failed. Several radial engine mechanics consulted by the pilot indicated that a master rod failure was consistent with the reported loss of engine power. The reason for the master rod failure was not determined.
Aircraft Information
The engine had accumulated 1,910 hours total time, with 655.0 hours since its last major overhaul.