AN IAR 823 EXPERIENCED A PWR LOSS DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK AND COMPLETED A SAFE OFF FIELD LNDG.

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WHILE FLYING BACK FROM ZZZ1; APPROX 15 MI FROM MY HOME ARPT ZZZ2; THE ENG IN MY ACFT BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. AFTER CHKING FUEL SELECTOR AND ENGAGING THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP; THE ENG QUIT RUNNING. I HAD APPROX 30 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE ACFT WHEN DEPARTING THE HOME ARPT. THE TOTAL FLT DOWN AND BACK FROM ZZZ1 IS APPROX 24 MINS. I PICKED OUT A FIELD TO LAND IN; AND ACCOMPLISHED A GOOD LNDG WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES TO MYSELF OR THE ACFT. THE FIELD WAS A HAY FIELD WHICH WAS CUT TO APPROX 6 INCHES; WHICH SLOWED THE ACFT DOWN QUICKLY. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE SUCH AS RUTS OR GROOVES TO THE FIELD. THE OWNER WAS MORE THAN HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDING. AFTER CHKING THE TANKS AFTER LNDG; THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FUEL IN THEM TO COMPLETE THE FLT. AT THE TIME OF THIS LETTER; WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE MISSING FUEL. IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER FAA INVESTIGATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT; IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE WAS A VAPOR LOCK. TO REMEDY THE SITUATION; HE INSTALLED A HEAT SHIELD BTWN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE FUEL LINE. FOLLOWING THE MODIFICATION; HE DEPARTED THE FARM FIELD AND TEST FLEW THE ACFT BACK TO HIS HOME BASE. HE RPTED THAT THE ENG DID NOT ACTUALLY QUIT BUT SIMPLY LOST PWR AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENTS.