Sometimes, the official (but preliminary) report gives just enough information to let people know what happened. It's not essential that it be technically correct or explicit.

Witness the following report: it seems to imply that, somehow, during flight, the engine was misplaced. That's a pretty terrifying prospect, but quite unlikely. First of all, if the engine actually turned up lost, one would think the best strategy (for preservation of CG, if nothing else) would be to look where it was last seen. After having found the engine, imagine the surprise of the pilot, when he found himself landing with "no gear!" He must have really wondered who last tightened all those bolts!

Hey... it's a preliminary report... cut 'em some slack!

**   Report created 3/28/2003   Record 3  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 40XX        Make/Model: M20T      Description: M-20K/M, ENCORE, BRAVO, 231, 2
  Date: 03/27/2003     Time: 1407
  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Minor
LOCATION
  City: HOLLYWOOD   State: FL   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT LOST ENGINE ON TAKEOFF, RWY 9R, ON IFR TO CRE (NORTH MYRTLE  BEACH). ACFT CIRCLED AND LANDED ON TXY P, WITH NO LANDING GEAR. HOLLYWOOD, FL
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KWHO 271405Z 14008KT 10SM OVC090 23/20 A2992
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Take-off      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: HOLLYWOOD, FL               Dep Date: 03/27/2003   Dep. Time: 1405
  Destination: N MYRTLE BEACH, SC       Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: Y
  Last Radio Cont: UPWIND RWY9R
  Last Clearance: CLRD TO LND
  FAA FSDO: FT LAUDERDALE, FL  (SO17)             Entry date: 03/28/2003