On Oct 30, 8:06 pm, Shirl wrote:

Yes. Oil cooler split on start-up, but gauges were normal/green during a
normal run-up and takeoff.

Sometimes caused by really cold oil that the engine is trying to
shove through the cooler. A few of those episodes, each one swelling
the cooler a bit more, can bust it.

I've had a deadstick to a fallow grain field. I was looking at it
one day when I had my father out for a ride in the old 7AC, thinking
that it would be a good place to set down if I had to, and just then
the crankshaft busted. At 400 feet. Made it over the powerlines OK.
Done landings in stubble fields, on gravel roads, and in a pea-
stubble field, which was easily the smoothest surface of the bunch.
Used to tow gliders off grass. There are numerous farm grass strips
around here. And some of the paved highways are pretty lonely, too.

Dan