N875A

On July 27, 1998, at 0923 eastern daylight time (edt), a Piper PA-22, N875A, operated by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight, the airplane's engine failed. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted the terrain 10 miles north of Muskegon, Michigan. 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 reported no injuries. The cross country flight originated at Pontiac, Michigan, at 0700 edt, and was en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he was cruising en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and just over Lake Michigan, when he felt the engine's power "sag for just an instant and then engine noises started." He said that these "noises" were "light at first" and then increased in volume. Then the engine began to shake violently, eventually shaking the entire airframe. Concerned that the engine might separate from the airframe, the pilot shut down the engine. The pilot turned the airplane back toward the shore, descended through a cloud deck and set up to land on a section of two-lane road near a highway. The pilot said that when he was on "short, short final (about 15 to 20 feet above ground level)," he stalled the airplane. The pilot held full back elevator. The airplane was level and slightly nose high when it impacted on the road. The airplane "rebounded" approximately 5 feet into the air and weathervaned so that the pilot was looking at some trees. The pilot applied full left rudder just before the airplane touched down again. the airplane slid sideways until it came to a stop.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was resting upright at the bottom of a 7 foot embankment, along the side of a road shoulder. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed upward. Both main landing gear were bent aft and broken. Both wing struts were bent inward. The lower engine cowling was crushed upward and aft. The left wing leading edge was crushed rearward and torn. The left flap and left aileron were punctured. The right wing leading edge was bent aft and torn. The right wing tip was broken out and crushed. The engine mounts and nose gear strut were bent downward, and broken aft. The bottom of the rudder was crushed upward. The empennage showed skin wrinkles. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Oil was found covering the windscreen. Examination of the engine revealed the number four cylinder connecting rod was broken. A 2-inch diameter hole was located in the top aft portion of the engine crankcase.