PLT OF A C210 MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG AFTER THE ENG QUIT. HE WAS LOW UNDER AN OVCST WHEN THE ENG STARTED SPUTTERING SO HE SWITCHED TO THE OTHER FUEL TANK WITH MORE FUEL AND THE ENG QUIT. HE LANDED IN A FIELD STRIKING A COW WITH THE R MAIN LNDG GEAR SHEARING IT OFF. THERE WAS NO OTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

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ON A FLT FROM A PVT STRIP NEAR KIMBERLING CITY; MO; TO LIBERAL; KS; I EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE IN A C210; APPROX 20 MI E OF LIBERAL; KS; IN VMC. I WAS FLYING AT 3800 FT MSL (900 FT AGL). I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN UNTIL APPROX 25 MI E OF LIBERAL; WHEN I CANCELED IFR AND PROCEEDED BELOW THE BROKEN LAYER OF CLOUDS AHEAD. THE FUEL GAUGES SAID THAT I HAD 7 GALS IN THE L TANK AND 15 GALS IN THE R. I WAS RUNNING OFF THE L TANK WHEN THE ENG STARTED TO SPUTTER. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TO THE R TANK. THE ENG THEN TOTALLY QUIT. I TURNED THE BOOST PUMP ON; ADJUSTED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH AND TRIED DIFFERENT THROTTLE SETTINGS. THE ENG STILL WOULD NOT START. I THEN SWITCHED TANKS AGAIN TO THE L SIDE SINCE IT WAS AT LEAST SPUTTERING ON THAT TANK. THE ENG STILL DID NOT START. AT THIS TIME I WAS GETTING VERY LOW; SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LNDG IN A FIELD. I PUT THE GEAR DOWN WHEN I KNEW I HAD THE FIELD MADE. I THEN SECURED THE ENG BY SHUTTING THE FUEL SELECTOR OFF; MIXTURE FULL LEAN; ALL ELECTRICAL OFF; AND MAGNETOS OFF. UNFORTUNATELY; DUE TO THE ROUGH TERRAIN IN THE AREA; MY CHOICES OF WHERE TO SET DOWN WERE EXTREMELY LIMITED. THE BEST AREA I COULD FIND WAS A STRETCH OF SEMI-FLAT LAND WITH COWS GRAZING IN IT. THE COWS WERE ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LNDG AREA. I THOUGHT THAT THE COWS WOULD MOVE; BUT THEY DID NOT. I CLIPPED ONE COW WITH MY R MAIN LNDG GEAR; SHEARING IT OFF COMPLETELY. I THEN SET DOWN JUST BEYOND THE COW; SKIDDING ON THE R SIDE OF THE BELLY COMING TO A STOP WITH THE R WING DOWN. BOTH L MAIN AND NOSEWHEEL WERE STILL INTACT. THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAA IS AT THIS TIME TRYING TO CLASSIFY THIS AS AN INCIDENT.