20000419011189A

(-23) The pilot/builder of this high performance experimental amateur built a/c said the engine failed during an idle descent for landing. The conventional gear single seat low wing single engine airplane touched down in a plowed field, hit the embankment on a paved road, passed under power lines, touched down again on the airport grounds and then flipped on its back. There was obvious damage to rudder, vertical tail, wing tips, canopy, main landing gear, propellor, and engine mount. The pilot reports the g-meter showed +8.5 gs and -4.5 gs and said he credited his survival to the roll bar and the 5 point restraint harness he had installed. He also said he would never have been able to exit the inverted a/c unassisted if he had not been carrying a crash axe. There appeared sufficient clean and uncontaminated fuel onboard. The FAA maintenance inspector who examined the a/c said fuel supply continuity, fuel pump, throttle control, and mixture control continuity all checked ok and the plugs were clean and showed no signs of fouling. (.4) on April 19, 2000, at 1633 central daylight time, a Mooney M20F single-engine airplane, N7038V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power near tomball, Texas. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot sustained a minor injury and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 code of federal regulations part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from conroe, Texas, at 1618, with a destination of san marcos, Texas. The aircraft was climbing through 4,000 feet MSL when the engine RPM increased, and the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. The pilot reported the situation to Houston departure control and they vectored the aircraft to the David Wayne Hooks airport. As the aircraft was descending, at about 600 feet AGL, the engine lost power. The pilot landed the aircraft in a field short of the runway. The airplane passed over a small lake and a large tree, touched down in the field approx. wings level with the landing gear retracted, and "slid through the field for roughly 125 feet" before coming to a stop. The pilot stated he did not lower the landing gear due to the need for altitude and airspeed to reach the field. Examination of the a/c by the FAA inspector revealed that the tail was twisted to the left and displaced upward, and oil was found along the a/c's left side. Examination of the engine revealed the #4 connecting rod sticking out of the crankcase. Further examination revealed that an oil cooler line had ruptured. According to the pilot/operator accident report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) the last inspection performed on the a/c weas an annual inspection. It was completed on March 19. 2000, eithe flight hours prior to the accident.