FTW00LA096

The airplane was flying level at 6,000 feet in dark night light conditions when the engine lost power. The pilot declared an emergency and received radar vectors to a nearby airport. During the ensuing forced landing, the pilot observed oil cover the front windscreen and sparks coming from beneath the engine cowling. He moved the mixture control to the idle/cut-off position and secured the engine. The airplane landed short of the airport, struck a fence, and came to rest upright. A review of airframe and engine maintenance records did not reveal any evidence of uncorrected maintenance discrepancies. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

On March 13, 2000, at 2330 central standard time, a Siai-Marchetti S.205/22R airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Rayville, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant, who was not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, for which an IFR flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from the Montgomery Regional Airport, Montgomery, Alabama, and was destined for the Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, Louisiana.

According to the pilot, the airplane was flying level at 6,000 feet agl. when he felt an "extreme vibration," followed by a partial loss of engine power, and subsequently, oil appeared on the front windscreen. The pilot declared an emergency to the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center and was provided radar vectors to the John H. Hooks Jr. Memorial Airport, Rayville, Louisiana. The airplane was descending through 4,000 feet when the pilot observed "sparks" coming from beneath the engine cowling. At 1,300 feet the pilot moved the mixture control to the idle/cut-off position and secured the engine. The airplane touched down short of the runway, struck a fence, and came to a stop upright. The pilot added that during the preflight examination, prior to the accident flight, he confirmed that the engine oil level was normal.

An FAA inspector examined the airplane and stated that the right wing spar was structurally damaged. A review of the airplane's airframe and engine maintenance records revealed that the airframe had accumulated a total of 1,940.0 hours at the time of the accident and underwent its most recent annual inspection on March 8, 2000. The airplane was equipped with a 220-horsepower Franklin 6A-350-CIR engine. The engine had accumulated a total of 240.6 hours since major overhaul at the time of the accident, and underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection on March 8, 2000, 15.8 hours prior to the accident. A review of the maintenance records did not reveal evidence of any uncorrected maintenance discrerpancies. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.