Incident Overview
During a flight, the pilot reduced the throttle to 2,250 RPM while leveling at an altitude of 5,500 feet. Without any prior warning, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful.
Forced Landing Attempt
Faced with a complete loss of engine power, the pilot decided to execute a forced landing on a road. However, traffic conditions on the road made it unsuitable for landing. Consequently, the pilot selected a field adjacent to the road for the landing. The field was covered with mesquite shrubs and clumps of bear grass. Upon landing, the field proved to be rough and uneven.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the #1 exhaust valve head had separated from the valve stem. This separation resulted in internal damage to the respective cylinder, piston, intake valve, and push rods.