What happened
On July 12, 2025, at approximately 20:15 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Rans S7, registration N69TY, was involved in an accident near Blackfoot, Idaho. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal flight.
The pilot had been flying for approximately 45 minutes, completing a 75-mile loop over his farm property, when the engine began to pop and vibrate. The pilot continued to operate the engine at reduced power, but subsequently observed the oil pressure drop to 0 psi, at which point the engine ceased producing power. The pilot then initiated a forced landing into a wheat field.
During the landing, the aircraft nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
During the recovery of the aircraft, investigators found the lower fuselage covered in oil. The engine crankcase and one of the engine cylinders were also damaged. At the time of the accident, the engine had approximately 959 hours of total operation and had been 13 hours into its service life since the last inspection performed on March 8, 2025.