Flight Details
After departure, the pilot heard noises from the engine and chose to execute a forced landing in a swampy area. According to the pilot, the preflight inspection revealed a total fuel load of 47 gallons, with 22 gallons in the left wing tank and 25 gallons in the right. The pilot indicated that refueling was not performed because the fixed-base operator (FBO) had run out of fuel; he planned to refuel at the destination, believing there was 'plenty of reserve.'
Approximately 25 miles northwest of the departure airport, while at an altitude between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, the pilot heard a 'thud.' He reported realizing a mechanical problem and initially thought a cylinder had been lost. He turned southeast and notified air traffic control (ATC) of the engine issues. The pilot stated that the gauges showed normal readings: 23 inches of manifold pressure, 2,500 RPM, and 120 pounds of fuel flow.
Forced Landing
Attempting to restart the engine, the pilot switched fuel to the left side, activated the fuel pump to prime the lines, checked both magnetos (left and right), and verified the mixture was rich. These actions did not result in a successful restart, leading to the forced landing.
Post-Accident Examination
Under the supervision of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the engine was test run with all components that were present at the time of the accident, except for the magnetos. No discrepancies were noted during the engine run. Additionally, both magnetos were examined under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supervision; they were tested up to 3,500 RPM and no discrepancies were observed.