Incident Overview
The airplane was cruising at flight level 270 (27,000 feet) in dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) when the pilot heard a 'muffled thump' from the engine. Subsequently, the pilot observed an immediate loss of power, with torque dropping to zero and Ng falling to 20 percent. The pilot declared an emergency to air traffic control and was advised of the nearest airport.
Restart Attempts and Descent
The pilot performed one air restart and two electrical restarts, but none were successful. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane entered visual flight rules (VFR) conditions while descending through 5,000 feet. The aircraft came to rest in a field located southeast of the airport, where standing water depths ranged from 3 to 5 feet.
Post-Accident Examination
A review of data downloaded from the engine trend monitor, along with an examination of the engine and its components conducted by Pratt and Whitney, did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the loss of engine power.
The investigation concluded that the engine power loss occurred without any identifiable mechanical failure or malfunction, based on the available evidence.