NTSB Factual Report

On July 18, 2018, about 1400 central daylight time, an Eagle DW-1 bi-plane, N8805X, was substantially damaged when it made a forced landing due to a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Ider, Alabama. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated that he was maneuvering at 1,500 ft when the engine stopped producing power after he heard a "deep knock" in the engine followed by the entire windshield getting covered with oil. The pilot made a forced landing to a service road and the airplane struck a barbed-wire fence with the right wings before coming to rest upright on the edge of a soybean field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both right wings, the outboard section of the left wings, and the fuselage.

Examination of the engine revealed the No. 2 cylinder had separated from the engine. The airplane and engine were retained for further investigation.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His last Federal Aviation Administration second-class medical was issued on December 30, 2017. The pilot reported a total flight time of 2,214.4 hours.

Weather reported at Huntsville International Airport (HSV), Huntsville, Alabama, about 53 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1353, was: wind from 310° at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 3,600 ft, scattered clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 32° C, dew point 24°, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches Hg.