Small aircraft experimental pilot made an off airport forced landing after the engine crankshaft bro...

Attributes
ACN	544029
Time
Date	200204
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ict.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	544029
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : 2
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

An emergency off-field landing was conducted due to engine failure. Engine failure was due to a broken crankshaft. A low altitude VMC cruise was being conducted to avoid IFR vectors away from great circle route. Nearest airport was located using GPS database. At 15 NM and 2500 ft MSL, a decision was made to land in open field. Time did not allow for complete emergency checklist to be used. I think that the student pilot (passenger) could have helped me use the checklist, had I thought about it. Additionally, CRM training would have helped me. I could have had him radio 121.5, squawk 7700, activate ELT, but never got to it. Time from engine failure to land was approximately 2 mins. No injuries and minor damage to airframe, landing gear.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA EXPERIMENTAL PLT MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG CRANKSHAFT BROKE.

Narrative: AN EMER OFF-FIELD LNDG WAS CONDUCTED DUE TO ENG FAILURE. ENG FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. A LOW ALT VMC CRUISE WAS BEING CONDUCTED TO AVOID IFR VECTORS AWAY FROM GREAT CIRCLE RTE. NEAREST ARPT WAS LOCATED USING GPS DATABASE. AT 15 NM AND 2500 FT MSL, A DECISION WAS MADE TO LAND IN OPEN FIELD. TIME DID NOT ALLOW FOR COMPLETE EMER CHKLIST TO BE USED. I THINK THAT THE STUDENT PLT (PAX) COULD HAVE HELPED ME USE THE CHKLIST, HAD I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. ADDITIONALLY, CRM TRAINING WOULD HAVE HELPED ME. I COULD HAVE HAD HIM RADIO 121.5, SQUAWK 7700, ACTIVATE ELT, BUT NEVER GOT TO IT. TIME FROM ENG FAILURE TO LAND WAS APPROX 2 MINS. NO INJURIES AND MINOR DAMAGE TO AIRFRAME, LNDG GEAR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Small aircraft experimental pilot made an off airport forced landing after the engine crankshaft broke.