What happened
While cruising at flight level 270 (27,000 feet) during dark night IMC, the pilot heard a muffled thump originating from the engine. This was immediately followed by an immediate loss of power, with torque dropping to 0 and NG to 20%.
After declaring an emergency to Air Traffic Control, the pilot was provided with information regarding the nearest airport. The crew attempted one air restart and two electrical restarts, but none were successful. As the aircraft descended through 5,000 feet, conditions transitioned to VFR. The airplane completed a forced landing in a field located southeast of the airport, coming to rest in 3-5 feet of standing water.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed downloaded data from the engine trend monitor. Additionally, Pratt and Whitney performed an examination of the engine and its various components. This review did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies that would have prevented normal operation prior to the loss of engine power.