What happened
Following takeoff, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power from its engine. Due to the loss of propulsion, the pilot was forced to perform an emergency ditching in open water. All occupants were able to exit the aircraft after the impact and were later recovered by a nearby recreational boat.
Findings
An inspection of the engine identified a fracture hole located near the number two cylinder. Investigators determined that the number two cylinder connecting rod had suffered a fatigue fracture. This failure was attributed to high levels of stress and heat, which were triggered by the failure of the number two bearing.
Analysis of the fatigue fracture showed multiple points of origin, which is characteristic of high cyclic stress. This condition likely arose because excessive clearances had formed between the bearing and the crankshaft journal. The investigation noted that the failure of the bearing could have been caused by either a material defect within the bearing or a disruption in the lubrication oil supply to the bearing and journal interface. Both potential scenarios would result in the observed damage patterns, specifically the excessive heating that led to the ultimate mechanical failure.