Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 21; Flight Crew Total 1600; Flight Crew Type 200
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
I departed ZZZ. I climbed to 6500 ft MSL on a route direct to the mainland upper peninsula. While all onboard passengers were wearing PFDs (Personal Floating Device) for this section; I flew a high and circuitous route to minimize my over water risk. While about 18 NM east of ZZZ1; the engine became very loud (banging); rough running; and the aircraft began to shake significantly. I already had the frequency prepared in case of an emergency and I immediately called Center and told them of my current situation and that I was looking to possibly make a forced landing on a beach or the highway. I adjusted the prop control and mixture and it had no effect on the condition of the engine operation. I felt it was only a matter of time before the engine seized and needed to land ASAP. I pushed the 'nearest' button on my GPS and saw that ZZZ1 was approximately 5 minutes away given my descent rate and slight tailwind. There were suitable roads and beaches between my present position and the field. I decided to try to make the field and notified Center of my intentions to do so. I landed straight in at ZZZ1 on Runway XX with a tailwind and the engine running rough and not making full power. I was no longer able to communicate with Center while on the ground at ZZZ1 (although I could hear them; they couldn't hear me) and relayed that we were safely on the ground through an airliner passing overhead. I heard the airliner make the radio call and transmission and Center acknowledge it. It turns out we lost the head off of cylinder #1 causing the banging; roughness and loss of power. As the situation went; I felt it couldn't have gone any better.
A Cessna 172 pilot reported having to make a forced landing due to the failure of an engine cylinder head.