NTSB Factual Report

On September 20, 2003, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Globe GC-1B, N3721K, registered to and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground in the vicinity of the city of Summerville, South Carolina, while conducting an emergency landing. The personal flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of accident. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Summerville, South Carolina, on September 20, 2003, at 1100.

According to the pilot, during cruise flight the engine began to make a loud "tapping" noise and began to vibrate. As the pilot maneuvered to make an emergency landing the engine made a loud "bang" and loss power. The pilot conducted an emergency landing on a dirt road and the airplane collided with a gate on rollout. Examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was dislodged from the fuselage, and the outboard section of the right wing was bent upward. The pilot reported no flight control malfunctions prior to the flight.

Examination of the engine revealed that the # 6 connecting rod bearing failed and the connecting rod separated from the crankshaft. Review of the engine records revealed that the engine was removed from the airplane on September 29, 1987, and reinstalled on the airplane on September 22, 1998. There was no record that showed the engine was stored in accordance with the manufactures service information letter, SIL99-1: "Engine Preservation For Active and Stored Aircraft".

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine # 6 connecting rod bearing. A factor was the collision with a gate.