Originally Posted by Pace
BPF
In my own situation with the Seneca minus three rocker shafts and the resultant mess in the engine the unit would have
very soon have failed completely. At that point in level flight the Seneca is happy on one. It was then more important to feather the prop and shut the unit down.
Whether that classifies as a partial failure I am not sure!
You only have to look at the failure rates between pistons and turbines to realize that
complete failure is not quite ZERO 
What starts as a partial failure can quickly deteriorate to a full failure. You make an excellent and valid point that the majority of failures are pilot induced either through fuel mismanagement or engine mismanagement.
I am still amazed how many students are told not to touch the little red lever and how little is taught about correct leaning etc.
With so many bits flying around in a piston engine I am not as confident they are as bullet proof as you are
Pace
Pace,
I have highlighted the relevant areas. I don't read BPF as saying they don't fail completely, I read him as saying they virtually never
instananeously fully fail. In other words, as in your case, there is a warning prior to complete failure, which gives valuable time.
If you reconsider his posts with that in mind you may not view them differently. (Assuming I'm right, of course)
BB