What happened
During the cruise portion of the flight, the pilot experienced a substantial reduction in engine power. The aircraft was no longer capable of sustaining its current altitude due to this mechanical issue. Consequently, the plane descended uncontrollably and impacted a wooded area.
Findings
A post-accident inspection of the engine, which had recently undergone an overhaul, identified the root cause of the incident. A fractured exhaust rocker arm was discovered within the assembly. This specific mechanical failure directly resulted in the loss of power that led to the crash.