PVT PLT OF A C210 MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT DURING CRUISE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ACFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

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CRUISING AT 10500 FT. WAS STARTING A CLB TO 12500 FT. NEW ENG WITH 25 HRS FROZE UP. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROB. NOTIFIED FRESNO ON EMER CHANNEL. USED 7700 ON XPONDER. SELECTED A SITE TO LAND. LANDED IN A MEADOW WITH GEAR UP. NO INJURIES TO MYSELF OR 1 PAX. DAMAGE TO ACFT WAS NOT EXTENSIVE. ELEVATION OF LNDG SITE 5300 FT MSL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED HIS HOME BASE OF WOODLAKE ARPT AND WAS JUST LEAVING CRUISE FLT TO CLB HIGHER WHEN THE ENG FROZE UP AND QUIT COMPLETELY. HE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS LUCKY WHEN TURNING BACK AWAY FROM THE HIGH RISING MOUNTAINS TO SEE AN ACCEPTABLE LNDG SPOT IN A MEADOW BELOW. HE FURTHER STATED THAT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE ENG; UNDER THE OBSERVATION OF THE FAA; DISCLOSED THAT ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT OF THE ENG APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE NOSEWHEEL PUSHING OPEN THE OIL QUICK DRAIN PLUG WHEN IT WAS RETRACTED INTO THE NOSE GEAR WELL. THIS SEEMED RATHER IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE ACFT HAD BEEN OPERATED PRIOR TO THE RECENT ENG REPLACEMENT FOR MANY HRS WITH THE QUICK DRAIN PLUG INSTALLED. HOWEVER; THE NEW PLUG MAY HAVE BEEN LONGER THAN THE OLD?