Incident Overview
Approximately 20 minutes after departing Ocean City, Maryland, a pilot encountered a total loss of engine power while nearing the Chesapeake Bay at an altitude of 3,000 feet above mean sea level. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful, necessitating a forced landing in a swamp near Cambridge, Maryland.
Rescue and Recovery
Following the forced landing, the pilot and passenger were airlifted from the accident site by a military helicopter. The wreckage was subsequently airlifted from the location and placed on a flatbed trailer for further examination.
Engine Examination
During the investigation, the engine was test-run on the trailer and operated normally when checked up to 2,000 RPM. Despite this, the specific cause of the in-flight loss of engine power could not be determined.
Conclusion
The investigation concluded that the reason for the total loss of engine power remained undetermined, as the engine functioned properly during post-accident testing.