What happened
While climbing at 4,000 feet MSL, the aircraft's engine began running rough. The pilot notified Little Rock approach control of the situation, stating that power could not be maintained and declaring an intention to return to Pine Bluff.
Unable to reach Pine Bluff, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a farm-maintained road leading to a rice field. During the landing sequence, the aircraft was unable to come to a complete stop and struck a levee surrounding the rice field. The impact with the levee caused the separation of the main landing gear. There were no injuries reported following the incident.
The investigation
An engine run was conducted as part of the investigation. An FAA inspector present for the test reported that the engine started easily and quickly. The engine demonstrated smooth operation from idle to maximum RPM in a satisfactory manner, with no visible cause identified for the previously reported rough running condition.