Incident Overview
On a test flight to evaluate a newly installed exhaust gas temperature gauge, the engine failed, leading to a collision with fences. The airplane was occupied by the pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who also served as the airplane's mechanic.
Flight and Engine Failure
The pilot entered the downwind leg for runway 16 at a 45-degree angle. At an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet mean sea level, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot then turned the airplane toward the runway but was unable to clear a fence located on the north boundary of the airport.
Collision Sequence
The airplane struck the fence, then skidded across a road and a ditch. The airplane's forward motion was finally halted when it struck another fence.
Post-Accident Accounts
The pilot reported the engine failure and the subsequent forced landing. The pilot-rated passenger corroborated the pilot's account but speculated that the power loss was caused by a vapor lock in the fuel system.
Engine Examination
The engine was examined after the accident, and no discrepancies were found that would have prevented the engine from developing power.