Engine failure for Lancair   Aircraft: Lancair IV-P. Injuries: 1
Fatal. Location: Hilton Head, S.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the airplane
was in cruise flight when the instrument panel begin to vibrate
heavily and oil begin to cover the wind screen. There was a loud
“bang” from the engine and then the engine then lost power. The
pilot had no forward visibility because of the oil on the
windscreen and could not maintain altitude. He elected to make
an emergency landing on a nearby beach. During the landing the
plane struck and killed a pedestrian.  Examination of the
airplane revealed that the propeller assembly separated from the
crankshaft and was missing. The propeller assembly and propeller
flange were not recovered. An examination by the NTSB Materials
Laboratory of the crankshaft revealed that the aft face of the
fracture contained crack arrest marks. The fracture of the
crankshaft was caused by multiple-origin fatigue cracks that
emanated at the af