Civil Aeronautics Board

“ He contemplated landing upon a highway but abandoned the idea, when he observed heavy traffic thereon. Heading west, he released a landing flare and began a spiraling descent. As he approached an open field he pulled the aircraft up sharply to avoid a house, but immediately afterwards the left nacelle struck an electric line pole breaking it off about 2-1/2 feet from its top. Captain Polizzi cut the master ignition switch ad landed the aircraft in a tail-low attitude, with wheels and flaps up, on the side of a ridge. ”

“ At this time sufficient power to maintain flying speed was not available and an emergency landing was necessitated. The captain turned off the left ignition switch and the fuel to the left engine and put the right propeller in low pitch. He immediately radioed Pittsburgh that he would attempt a landing on the Greensburg, Pennsylvania Airport. An attempt to use the left engine again was fruitless because it was backfiring end fire was coming from the nacelle. The left engine was therefore shut off again. ”

“ Examination of the left engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder had core off during the flight, forcing the cowling off of its stops and causing it to open up and flare back, resulting in vibration and drag sufficient to prevent continuation of flight to cylinder, its piston, and wrist pin were missing, and all of the cylinder hold-down studs were broken off at the cylinder pad. ”