NTSB Factual Report

On August 22, 2018, about 2300 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T206H, N35442, operated by the US Department of Homeland Security, was destroyed during a forced landing after a loss of engine power near Pittsfield Municipal Airport (2B7), Pittsfield, Maine. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was filed for the public use flight that originated from Bangor International Airport (BGR) Bangor, Maine.

According to the pilot, he departed BGR around 2100 for a mission that would last about 3 hours. During the return flight to BGR, at an altitude of 8,000 ft. he requested a lower altitude from air traffic control. During the decent, he heard a "bang," followed by a vibration and a sound like a "machine gun." The pilot noticed the engine was not producing engine power and a cylinder was "lost" on the engine monitoring instrument. The pilot then declared an emergency, and air traffic control gave him vectors to the closest airport, 2B7. While on an extended final approach to runway 36 at 2B7, the pilot determined that they would not be able to glide all the way to the runway. He noticed a river between the airplane and the runway, so he turned to avoid landing in the river. The pilot tried to land in an open area of the forest about 4,500 ft. south of runway 36.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane sustained damage to the elevator by contacting maple trees. The fuselage was fractured at a 45° angle. The pilot's floorboard and seat tracks were buckled from impact.

Detailed examination of the engine revealed that the No. 4 cylinder exhaust hydraulic roller tappet was fractured and had separated. The engine was retained for further examination.