N1033B

On August 4, 1996, at 1125 central daylight time (cdt), a Sport- A, N1033B, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated at Kirksville, Missouri, at 1010 cdt, and was en route to Warrensburg, Missouri.

In his written statement, the pilot said that the airplane was cruising at 2,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) when "the engine began to throw oil on the windscreen. There was no suitable terrain for a normal landing within gliding distance, so (I) had to put down in a corn and bean field. The corn stalks were over 10 feet tall and adjacent bean field foliage was 3 feet tall." The airplane "clipped the top of the last four rows of corn, but made it to the bean field." The airplane impacted upright in the bean field.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage and the site where the accident occurred found impact damage to a row of 4-foot high bushes which separated the corn field and the bean field. Two ground scars corresponding to where the airplane's main landing gear had separated were found in bean field furrows which ran perpendicular to the airplane's ground roll path. Examination of the airplane wreckage showed the left wing spar bent aft. The left wing exhibited numerous wrinkles. The right upper and lower longerons were bent at the cockpit and midway between the cockpit and the vertical stabilizer. Both lower left and right longerons were cracked at the landing gear mounting attachments. The empennage was undamaged. One propeller blade was bent slightly aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Streaks of oil were found on both the forward and rear cockpit windscreens and the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine revealed a 4-inch diameter hole in the engine casing above the number two cylinder rod assembly. One of the connecting rod bolts was broken. The other connecting rod bolt and connecting rod end cap were missing. The number two cylinder had pushed free of the engine case.