What happened
A commercial certificated pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 regulations. The flight plan filed with the FAA was for a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) route covering approximately 161 statute miles. At the time of departure, the pilot reported having between 2.0 and 2.5 hours of fuel onboard for the intended trip.
Approximately 1.2 hours into the flight, the pilot declared an emergency via radio, reporting an engine failure and requesting an emergency landing. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in a meadow located on a remote island, which was surrounded by trees. The pilot was not injured during the event.
The investigation
An examination of the engine was conducted six months after the aircraft was retrieved from the accident site. The inspection revealed no observed preimpact mechanical malfunction.