What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 8, 2023 at ~1910, the PIC of privacy data omitted departed kbtf with an intended destination of kbtf. After flying ~16 miles east, the PIC noticed a burnt oil smell when he opened the heater. He immediately closed the heater and changed heading to return to kbtf anticipating a mechanical issue. ~2 minutes later, the PIC noticed a light vibration in the aircraft. He went to adjust the propeller control but the aircraft shuttered and oil sprayed over the windscreen accompanied by a total loss of power. The aircraft began rapidly descending from ~9000 feet elevation. The PIC recorded that the closest airport was 42U but did not believe the aircraft would make it that FAR and broadcasted the emergency. After looking for a place to land, the PIC committed to a road on the east side of the valley; however, as he was descending he noticed several power lines next to the road. He changed course west and landed in a field with ~24 inches of snow. The aircraft immediately flipped over its nose and landed upside-down. The PIC turned off battery master switch and fuel valve. He then proceeded to use the portable fire extinguisher to break open the canopy and successfully evacuated the aircraft. This investigation is being closed with further action/amendments required based on the NTSB investigation of the mechanical failure.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 8, 2023 AT ~1910, THE PIC OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED KBTF WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF KBTF. AFTER FLYING ~16 MILES EAST, THE PIC NOTICED A BURNT OIL SMELL WHEN HE OPENED THE HEATER. HE IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HEATER AND CHANGED HEADING TO RETURN TO KBTF ANTICIPATING A MECHANICAL ISSUE. ~2 MINUTES LATER, THE PIC NOTICED A LIGHT VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT. HE WENT TO ADJUST THE PROPELLER CONTROL BUT THE AIRCRAFT SHUTTERED AND OIL SPRAYED OVER THE WINDSCREEN ACCOMPANIED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN RAPIDLY DESCENDING FROM ~9000 FEET ELEVATION. THE PIC RECORDED THAT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT WAS 42U BUT DID NOT BELIEVE THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT THAT FAR AND BROADCASTED THE EMERGENCY. AFTER LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND, THE PIC COMMITTED TO A ROAD ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY; HOWEVER, AS HE WAS DESCENDING HE NOTICED SEVERAL POWER LINES NEXT TO THE ROAD. HE CHANGED COURSE WEST AND LANDED IN A FIELD WITH ~24 INCHES OF SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED OVER ITS NOSE AND LANDED UPSIDE-DOWN. THE PIC TURNED OFF BATTERY MASTER SWITCH AND FUEL VALVE. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO USE THE PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO BREAK OPEN THE CANOPY AND SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT. THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING CLOSED WITH FURTHER ACTION/AMENDMENTS REQUIRED BASED ON THE NTSB INVESTIGATION OF THE MECHANICAL FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.