NTSB Factual Report

On March 4, 2018, about 1558 Pacific standard time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 airplane, N207PC, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and forced landing about 3.5 nautical miles northeast of Enumclaw, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and active at the time of the accident. The flight had departed Yuma International Airport, Yuma, Arizona, about 1100 mountain standard time, with the reported destination being Snohomish County Airport, Everett, Washington.

The pilot reported that as he was descending through 10,000 ft mean sea level while in IFR conditions, he noticed that the manifold pressure (MP) had dropped to 10 inches Hg; his attempts to restore power to a normal MP level were unsuccessful. The pilot stated that about 10 to 15 seconds later he heard what he thought was a cylinder blow. He then heard the same type of noise several more times, followed by oil covering the windscreen and smoke entering the cockpit/cabin area. He then closed off the air coming in from the engine and opened the left cockpit side window, which cleared the smoke. The pilot opined that he was then vectored by air traffic control toward a grass airstrip, however, being unable to make it to the airstrip, he elected to land in a field. Unable to make the selected field, the pilot subsequently landed in a grove of trees before coming to rest on the ground. There was no postcrash fire. The pilot mentioned that the propeller continued to windmill throughout the entire event.

The airplane will be recovered to a secured storage facility for further examination.