Incident Overview
The aircraft suffered a complete loss of engine power without any prior warning while at an altitude of 2,500 feet above mean sea level (MSL) in the vicinity of Naval Air Station Brunswick. The pilot subsequently diverted toward the airport for a forced landing.
Emergency Procedures
During the descent, the pilot carried out standard emergency checklists in an effort to restore engine power. These included attempts to restart the engine aerially, but the engine did not relight.
Forced Landing
Having determined that the aircraft could not reach a suitable landing area, the pilot reported that after having "abandoned field made", he saw high-voltage wires across the intended landing path. To avoid colliding with the wires, the pilot induced a stall. The aircraft then touched down on a set of paint barrels situated at the far edge of the airport property.
Post-accident Investigation
An exhaustive examination of the fuel system, as well as other engine components, was carried out. The investigation failed to identify any defect, anomaly, or other explanation for the engine failure or malfunction.