LAX00LA244

The airplane collided with terrain during a forced landing following a catastrophic engine failure. The commercial pilot reported that he had the single engine airplane established in a cruise climb when he heard and felt a loud explosion coming from the engine. He then observed numerous punctures in the top of the engine cowling after the explosion, and reported that the engine stopped running within 10 seconds. The pilot elected to land on a gravel road. He reported that the airplane touched down at 70 knots and eventually ran off the side of the gravel road, which had a sharp bend to the left. The airplane impacted low brush and boulders and traveled down a hill before coming to rest. The engine underwent its last overhaul on June 16, 2000, and had accumulated approximately 5 hours since the overhaul, 2 of which were in the engine test cell. Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the two connecting rod bolt nuts for the number 6 rod were laying in the bottom of the engine case. The nuts were not stripped or damaged.

On June 28, 2000, at 0850 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182K single engine airplane, N3094Q, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Mayer, Arizona. The airplane was registered to and operated by Prescott Precision Die, Prescott, Arizona. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Prescott at 0810, and was destined for the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. The personal cross-country flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed.

According to the pilot's written statement, he departed Prescott and was established in a cruise climb when he heard and felt a loud explosion coming from the engine. He then observed numerous punctures in the top of the engine cowling after the explosion, and reported that the engine stopped running within 10 seconds. The pilot made a mayday call to air traffic control and elected to land on a gravel road. He reported that the airplane touched down at 70 knots and eventually ran off the side of the gravel road, which had a sharp bend to the left. The airplane impacted low brush and boulders and traveled down a hill before coming to rest with structural damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

The engine underwent its last overhaul on June 16, 2000, and had accumulated approximately 5 hours since the overhaul, 2 of which were in the engine test cell. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector witnessed a post-accident examination of the engine. The examination revealed that the number 6 connecting rod bolt nuts were found laying in the bottom of the engine case. The nuts were not stripped or damaged.