Amateur-built Challenger accident near Switz City, Indiana, June 11, 2019

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, while returning to the airport after a local flight, the engine speed "suddenly" decreased from about 5,000 rpm to 2,500 rpm. He trimmed the airplane for its best glide airspeed and began looking for a forced landing site. About 30 seconds later, the engine seized and lost power completely. The airplane touched down short of the pilot's intended landing point and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. An engine examination revealed that a lower connecting rod bearing had failed, resulting in the total loss of engine power. Maintenance records indicated that an engine overhaul was completed slightly more than 5 years before the accident flight. The engine manufacturer's maintenance schedule specified that an engine overhaul be completed every 5 years or 300 hours, whichever comes first. It is likely that, had the engine been overhauled in accordance with manufacturer guidance, the worn connecting rod bearing would have been detected during the overhaul and resulted in its replacement.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.