Incident Overview
The pilot reported that the airplane had recently undergone an overhaul, which included a complete rebuilding of the engine. Following a thorough preflight inspection, the pilot executed what he described as a normal takeoff. As the aircraft climbed through approximately 500 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a sudden but smooth loss of power.
Emergency Response
The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He then selected a suitable field for an off-airport landing. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft ground, causing it to nose over. The extent of damage to the aircraft was not specified in the available information.
Engine Examination
Textron Lycoming conducted an examination of the engine and found it to be in excellent condition. According to Lycoming, no discrepancies were identified that would have prevented the engine from operating normally. The reason for the power loss remains undetermined based on the investigation.