CEN17LA338

The private pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane. While in cruise flight about 1 hour after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing in a bean field. The airplane nosed over after touchdown, crushing the top of the rudder. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that, before moving the airplane to its hangar following the accident, he drained the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. He reported that he drained 13 gallons; this could not be confirmed by the FAA inspectors. A cursory examination of the engine established drive train continuity when the propeller was turned by hand; however, based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

On September 3, 2017, about 1615 central daylight time, a Golden Eagle Chief, N68N, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in a bean field near Mt. Zion, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Macomb (MQB), Illinois, and was en route to Mattoon, (MTO), Illinois. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that the engine lost power. His first thought was that it was a fuel issue. He made a forced landing in a bean field and the airplane nosed over on its back. The top of the rudder was crushed. The pilot said there was fuel in the tanks at the accident site. Despite numerous requests, the pilot refused to complete the NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1-2). He told the FAA inspector that he planned to sell the wreckage and would not repair it. The following, therefore, is based on information supplied by FAA inspectors. Prior to moving the airplane to its hangar, the pilot said he drained 13 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. By the time FAA inspectors arrived, the airplane had been in the hangar for over 24 hours. The inspector said he had no way of confirming the amount of fuel remaining in the airplane because he did not see any fuel when he arrived. The airplane had been inverted and fuel could have leaked out the vented fuel caps. The fuel tanks, which hold 30 gallons, were filled at Macomb, Illinois. The inspector estimated the flight time from Macomb to Mt. Zion to be about one hour. The inspector turned the propeller by hand and noted drive train continuity. On August 10, 2007, the pilot and N68N were involved in another accident near Hindsboro, Illinois. In that case a forced landing and nose over ensued after the engine lost power, Post-accident examination revealed the number 7 cylinder had separated.