Broken crankshaft on small aircraft in cruise on IFR plan results in dead stick landing.

Attributes
ACN	201406
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mrb airport : w54
State Reference	WV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc artcc : rjtg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 105 flight time total : 3712 flight time type : 1250
ASRS Report	201406
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was level at 13500 on an IFR flight plan with a VFR on top clearance. I was with washington center 133.65 when near the mrb VOR I decided to descend to 11000 and get my IFR status back. I evidently had missed a handoff as the controller acted unaware of my presence of location. Less than 30 seconds after my request to descend I experienced engine failure. At that point I found the appropriate approach control frequency for baltimore, called them, then declared an emergency during my descent. I found the westminster, carroll county airport (W54) and landed deadstick. There was no fire or damage to the airframe as it was a normal landing. The engine had oil coming from the accessory area and had a broken crankshaft. No incident report was filed by myself as I relayed the details of the flight over the telephone to an inspector with the FAA. The inspector indicated to me no report was necessary as he would file it with the information he had received from me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BROKEN CRANKSHAFT ON SMA IN CRUISE ON IFR PLAN RESULTS IN DEAD STICK LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS LEVEL AT 13500 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH A VFR ON TOP CLRNC. I WAS WITH WASHINGTON CTR 133.65 WHEN NEAR THE MRB VOR I DECIDED TO DSND TO 11000 AND GET MY IFR STATUS BACK. I EVIDENTLY HAD MISSED A HDOF AS THE CTLR ACTED UNAWARE OF MY PRESENCE OF LOCATION. LESS THAN 30 SECONDS AFTER MY REQUEST TO DSND I EXPERIENCED ENG FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I FOUND THE APPROPRIATE APCH CTL FREQ FOR BALTIMORE, CALLED THEM, THEN DECLARED AN EMER DURING MY DSCNT. I FOUND THE WESTMINSTER, CARROLL COUNTY ARPT (W54) AND LANDED DEADSTICK. THERE WAS NO FIRE OR DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME AS IT WAS A NORMAL LNDG. THE ENG HAD OIL COMING FROM THE ACCESSORY AREA AND HAD A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT. NO INCIDENT RPT WAS FILED BY MYSELF AS I RELAYED THE DETAILS OF THE FLT OVER THE TELEPHONE TO AN INSPECTOR WITH THE FAA. THE INSPECTOR INDICATED TO ME NO RPT WAS NECESSARY AS HE WOULD FILE IT WITH THE INFO HE HAD RECEIVED FROM ME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.