What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)privacy data omitted was towing a banner over the Beach, in the vicinity of Ormond Beach, Florida, at an altitude of approximately 400 feet AGL. While flying southbound he lost approximately 100 to 200 engine RPM. He was able to maintain his altitude and turned northbound which was into the wind. He then lost another 400 RPM and started descending down to approximately 100 feet AGL. He disconnected the banner and climbed up about a 100 feet when the engine failed completely. Engine RPM was at about 1600 RPM when it completely failed. privacy data omitted Landed along the Beach in about 2 feet of water. He elected not to land on the Beach sand due to people located in that area. FAA inspection found #4 piston rod detached from engine crankcase and crankcase cracked above piston rod. The #4 rod bearing was distorted and overheated.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)^PRIVACY D^ WAS TOWING A BANNER OVER THE BEACH, IN THE VICINITY OF ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL. WHILE FLYING SOUTHBOUND HE LOST APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 200 ENGINE RPM. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE AND TURNED NORTHBOUND WHICH WAS INTO THE WIND. HE THEN LOST ANOTHER 400 RPM AND STARTED DESCENDING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL. HE DISCONNECTED THE BANNER AND CLIMBED UP ABOUT A 100 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. ENGINE RPM WAS AT ABOUT 1600 RPM WHEN IT COMPLETELY FAILED. ^PRIVACY D^ LANDED ALONG THE BEACH IN ABOUT 2 FEET OF WATER. HE ELECTED NOT TO LAND ON THE BEACH SAND DUE TO PEOPLE LOCATED IN THAT AREA. FAA INSPECTION FOUND #4 PISTON ROD DETACHED FROM ENGINE CRANKCASE AND CRANKCASE CRACKED ABOVE PISTON ROD. THE #4 ROD BEARING WAS DISTORTED AND OVERHEATED.