What happened
While operating a flight from Tucson towards Dodge City under favorable weather conditions, the aircraft's right engine experienced an onboard fire. In response to the emergency, the pilot deactivated the affected engine. However, due to the loss of power, the aircraft was unable to sustain its altitude, necessitating an immediate emergency descent.
The pilot executed a belly landing in a field located near Cliff. Following the impact, the aircraft caught fire and was subsequently destroyed. The pilot, who was the only person on board, managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified a cylinder assembly failure as the primary reason for the engine fire and subsequent explosion during flight. Several contributing elements were noted in the official report:
- An engine detonation occurred alongside the fire
- The landing was an intentional wheels-up maneuver on unpaved ground
- Damage was present to the external supercharger of the exhaust system
- Evidence of warped foreign object damage was found
- The landing site featured rough and uneven terrain
- A hole was discovered near the number two exhaust valve seat
- High density altitude conditions of 7,900 feet were present during the event