Incident Overview
A pilot reported experiencing a loss of engine power while flying an aircraft, leading to a forced landing in a gravel pit. According to the pilot's account, he did not know why the engine quit, though he noted that one of the fuel tanks still contained fuel. Prior to the landing, he made an emergency approach to an airstrip and was about to land when the engine restarted. The pilot stated he should have landed at that point but instead elected to go around and fly to his own airstrip. Shortly after departing the airstrip, the engine lost power again, and the pilot executed a forced landing in a gravel pit.
Background Information
A state trooper who interviewed the pilot reported that the pilot had recently changed two cylinders on the aircraft's engine and was conducting a test flight. The pilot, who is not certificated, is not an aviation mechanic. In his report, he did not indicate any flight experience or that the airplane had received any of the required inspections. The pilot related that he routinely flies the aircraft from his private, rural airstrip.