Amateur/Home Built/Experimental
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1000; Flight Crew Type 20
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
I was flying north at 5;500 MSL; when I felt the engine start to run excessively rough. Feeling that serious damage might occur to the aircraft; chose to shut the engine down and make a dead stick landing.I did land safely in an open clearing with very minimal damage to aircraft. After inspection of the engine and not finding any visual trouble; I decided to disassemble wings and trailer the aircraft to maintenance facility. Upon further inspection I found the counterweights to be not secured properly. I have a Repairman's certificate for the plane. This aircraft is an Experimental Home-built plane.
A pilot shut down a single engine after it was running rough and then executed a dead stick landing. There was minimal damage to the aircraft.