What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Owner/pilot stated he was climbing while orbiting during phase one flight testing when the aircraft engine seized. The pilot did not attempt to restart the engine because the runway was in sight and he had sufficient altitude to make the runway. An uneventful landing was made and the aircraft was towed to the ramp. A subsequent engine teardown was performed by the owner/builder of the experimental aircraft. A seized propeller shaft support bearing was found which apparently caused the engine to stop. Total time on the automotive conversion part unknown however the pilot reported 3.5 hours flight time.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) OWNER/PILOT STATED HE WAS CLIMBING WHILE ORBITING DURING PHASE ONE FLIGHT TESTING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE SEIZED. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE RUNWAY WAS IN SIGHT AND HE HAD SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WAS MADE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO THE RAMP. A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED BY THE OWNER/BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. A SEIZED PROPELLER SHAFT SUPPORT BEARING WAS FOUND WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP. TOTAL TIME ON THE AUTOMOTIVE CONVERSION PART UNKNOWN HOWEVER THE PILOT REPORTED 3.5 HOURS FLIGHT TIME.