What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) N8690M experienced a catastrophic engine failure where the #4 connecting rod separated from the crankshaft and punched through the engine case, causing a loss of power that required an emergency landing on a remote beach. During the roll-out, the nose gear collapsed in the soft sand, causing substantial damage to the engine support structure. There were no injuries and no other damage to the aircraft. Engine tear-down inspection showed that the #4 connecting rod bearing failed due to lack of lubrication, causing the connecting rod to separate from the crankshaft. The reason for the lack of lubrication is still under investigation.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) N8690M EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHERE THE #4 CONNECTING ROD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND PUNCHED THROUGH THE ENGINE CASE, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER THAT REQUIRED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A REMOTE BEACH. DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED IN THE SOFT SAND, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ENGINE TEAR-DOWN INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD BEARING FAILED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION, CAUSING THE CONNECTING ROD TO SEPARATE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF LUBRICATION IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.