Accident Details
On October 8, 2021, at approximately 1325 central daylight time, a Stinson 108 airplane, registration N677JD, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Wildwood, Arkansas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal cross-country trip.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that after leveling from a descent and increasing throttle, the engine began to cough and cut out intermittently. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost all power and the propeller began to windmill. The pilot immediately verified the mixture was full rich, applied carburetor heat, and checked the magnetos, but was unable to restore engine power. He noted that approximately 10 minutes before the power loss, he had switched from the right fuel tank to the left tank, which contained about 13 gallons of fuel at that time.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot executed a forced, power-off landing to a golf course. During the landing, the airplane impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing.
Engine Examination
A postaccident examination of the Franklin 6A4-150-B3 engine was conducted. Fuel was ejected from the carburetor when the butterfly valve was manipulated. The top spark plug from the No. 2 cylinder appeared bright white, consistent with exposure to high heat. The No. 5 cylinder and piston showed evidence of oil present past the cylinder rings. Both magnetos were removed and tested using a hand drill, with all terminals producing a bright blue spark. No obstructions were observed within the air induction system, and the examination revealed no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.