19970817022629A

On departure engine blew oil, made emergency landing, nose gear collapsed, caught fuel line on fire. (.4)according to the pilot, the flight departed cook field uneventfully and attained an altitude of approxiamtely 800 feet above ground level when the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot stated that, 'the windsheld was covered with oil," and by looking out the pilot's side window he was able to land uneventfully in a field. The pilot reported that the nose wheel collapsed during the landing roll and the aircraft came to rest approxiamtely midway down the 1,600 foot grassy field. The pilot reported that all passengers exited the aircraft without injuries. The pilot reported that a short time after the occupants were clear of the accident site the airpalne became engulfed in flames which eventually burned the fuselage and inboard sections of both wings. Post accident investigation showed that the number six cylinder was separated from the rest of the engine assembly, the crankshaft was fractured, and the propeller blade was fractured at the hub. Examination of the fractured propeller hub was conducted by mccaully propeller systems. Examination showe d that propeller blade, serial number K95501YS, had failed in fatigue with the fatigue origin found located in the tread root. No anomaly or material/manufacturing defect was found. Further examination showed that the internal components of the propeller contained a substantial amount of rust and rust residue. The specified time-between-overhaul (tbo) for the accident propeller was 1,200 hours or 60 calendar months, whichever occurs first. The propeller had never been overhauled and had been in service for the 19 years since new. FAA airworthiness directive 91-15-04, which requires the porpeller model to be modified to an oil-filled type for the purpose of crack detection, as not complied with.