MIA94LA194

The experimental homebuilt airplane had just reached cruise altitude when the engine failed. The pilot executed a forced landing to a cornfield and the airplane was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft had seized due to the crankshaft having no end play, as required. The crankshaft main bearing had also failed allowing the dowel rods to score into the crankshaft. The logbooks were incomplete; the person who installed the crankshaft could not be determined.

On August 11, 1994, about 1630 central daylight time, an Aerosport Quail, homebuilt airplane, N10JB, registered to Henry W. Schmidt, crashed into a corn field after the engine quit while climbing to the traffic pattern at the Waynesboro Municipal Airport, Waynesboro, Mississippi. The flight was a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight in the local area and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private- rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated about 15 minutes earlier from the Wayneboro, Mississippi Airport.

Examination of the wreckage by FAA personnel revealed no signs of rotational damage on the propeller, and when it was rotated by hand, travel was limited to about 45 degrees either direction. The conversion Volkswagen engine was removed and transported to a local shop for teardown. The teardown revealed that the crankshaft had been installed by an unknown person without the required end play. Without the end play the main bearing failed and the dowel rods scored into the crankshaft.