What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot reported that after flying for about 45 minutes, the engine popped and started to vibrate, then immediately went silent. He initiated a forced landing to a lakeside beach. During landing, the airplane struck a tree stump and sustained substantial damage to the left wing, spinning the aircraft and causing the landing gear to collapse. Upon initial inspection, the engine does not appear to have catastrophic damage. The aircraft is being sent for engine removal and NTSB inspection. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries. Aircraft records were reviewed and found to have proper aircraft certification but an expired aircraft inspection status. The transponder bi-annual certification requirement under 14 CFR 91.413 expired in may 2025. Pilot records were reviewed and found to have the correct certification and qualification for the flight.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER FLYING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, THE ENGINE POPPED AND STARTED TO VIBRATE, THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT SILENT. HE INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A LAKESIDE BEACH. DURING LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE STUMP AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, SPINNING THE AIRCRAFT AND CAUSING THE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT IS BEING SENT FOR ENGINE REMOVAL AND NTSB INSPECTION. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. AIRCRAFT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO HAVE PROPER AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION BUT AN EXPIRED AIRCRAFT INSPECTION STATUS. THE TRANSPONDER BI-ANNUAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT UNDER 14 CFR 91.413 EXPIRED IN MAY 2025. PILOT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED AND FOUND TO HAVE THE CORRECT CERTIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION FOR THE FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7946P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.