Flight and Power Loss
The pilot, with 1,172 hours of flight experience, was on a night cross-country flight. After leveling off at 1,200 feet, he increased manifold pressure, at which point the engine lost power. The pilot restored power by adjusting the mixture and activating the fuel boost pump. However, the engine lost power a second time.
Emergency Landing
The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field with the landing gear retracted. After the airplane came to rest, he secured the airplane and placed the fuel selector to the "off" position.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the auxiliary tanks, approximately 20 gallons in the left main tank, and approximately 15 gallons in the right main tank. The pilot reported that he had previously experienced three similar engine power losses in the same airplane, each time able to restore power. An airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the airplane after each prior incident and found no deficiencies.
Under the supervision of the National Transportation Safety Board, the engine was test-run. It started immediately and ran at various power settings without interruption for approximately 30 minutes. No mechanical deficiencies were noted.