What happened
On August 10, 2023, a Cessna 175, registration N7117M, was performing a private flight toward Shelby County Airport in Alabaster, Alabama, when the engine began to shudder and smoke entered the cockpit. The pilot decided to divert to a nearby private airfield.
During the diversion, the propeller began rotating intermittently. As the pilot attempted to land at the private field, they observed sparks and flames emitting from the engine compartment. While performing turns to reduce airspeed and altitude, the aircraft's speed remained too high for a safe landing. The pilot attempted a go-around, applying full throttle and a full-rich mixture to maneuver around nearby houses.
During this go-around, the propeller stopped rotating and the engine lost power. To avoid a stall while managing the high airspeed, the pilot leveled the wings and pulled the aircraft into a near-stall attitude, causing the tail to drag through trees. The fuselage eventually struck the trees and came to rest on the ground. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA inspector found substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, including impact damage to the right wing's leading edge. The right-wing fuel tank was breached and empty, while the left tank remained undamaged and contained fuel. No fuel contamination was identified.
Mechanical examination of the engine revealed a breach in the crankcase near the No. 3 cylinder. Investigators recovered a deformed connecting rod near the nose landing gear, though the end cap was missing. The crankshaft journal showed heavy mechanical damage, and oil residue was present on the cowling and airframe.
Maintenance records showed discrepancies regarding recent cylinder repairs. While logbooks indicated work on cylinders No. 5 and No. 6 in July 2022, corresponding invoices documented work on cylinders No. 1 and No. 2. The wreckage was sold as salvage before a more detailed examination could be performed.