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Fairbanks, AK
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE MECHANICAL STOPPAGE OF THE POWERPLANT. HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A BURNED SECTION OF WOODLAND THAT HAD DEAD TREES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT AND ONTO ROUGH AND UNEVEN TUNDRA. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER'S PISTON WRISTPIN HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE CONNECTING ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE PISTON. THE CONNECTING ROD DAMAGED THE INTERNAL PORTIONS OF THE ENGINE CASE IN ITS PLANE OF ROTATION AND BY JAMMING INTO THE CASE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP ROTATING.
THE FAILURE OF THE WRISTPIN CAUSED THE SEPARATION OF THE CONNECTING ROD FROM THE PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE. A FACTOR WAS UNAVAILABILITY OF A SUITABLE FORCED LANDING AREA.
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE MECHANICAL STOPPAGE OF THE POWERPLANT. HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A BURNED SECTION OF WOODLAND THAT HAD DEAD TREES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT AND ONTO ROUGH AND UNEVEN TUNDRA. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER'S PISTON WRISTPIN HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE CONNECTING ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE PISTON. THE CONNECTING ROD DAMAGED THE INTERNAL PORTIONS OF THE ENGINE CASE IN ITS PLANE OF ROTATION AND BY JAMMING INTO THE CASE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP ROTATING.