LAX07CA181

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after flying for about 40 minutes he noticed the oil temperature gauge begin to rise. He started looking for a suitable place to land when the oil temperature and engine temperature gauges both went beyond the red line. At 2,500 feet the engine made loud metallic clanking noises and began shaking violently. He shut the engine down and continued to make an emergency landing in to a plowed field. Upon landing the airplane nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod for the number 2 piston failed. The engine time since last overhaul was 6 hours. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and nosed over in a field during the forced landing. The pilot reported that after flying for about 40 minutes he noticed the oil temperature gauge begin to rise. He had started looking for a suitable place to land when the oil temperature and engine temperature gauges both went beyond the red line. At 2,500 feet the engine made loud metallic clanking noises and began to shake violently. He shut the engine down and proceeded to make an emergency landing in a plowed field. The airplane nosed over during the ground roll. Examination of the antique Ford Model B engine revealed that the connecting rod for the number 2 piston failed. The time since last overhaul on the engine was 6 hours. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12