UNABLE TO RETURN TO HIS REFUELING ARPT AFTER ENGINE FAILURE DURING DEPARTURE AN RV7 PILOT SUCCESSFULLY LANDS AT A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT.

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AFTER REFUELING AT ZZZ I WAS LEAVING THEIR AIRSPACE WHEN THE ENG STOPPED. I TURNED BACK TOWARDS ZZZ AND INFORMED THEM OF AN ENG OUT SITUATION. AFTER GOING OVER EMER CHKLISTS AND SETTING UP FOR BEST GLIDE SPD IT BECAME OBVIOUS I DID NOT HAVE THE ALT TO MAKE THE RWY. I SAW A CONSTRUCTION ZONE OFF TO MY L AND DECIDED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY PLACE TO LAND. I LANDED WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE ACFT WAS THEN TOWED BACK TO ZZZ ARPT BY THE LCL FBO. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ENG FAILURE WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT HAD DISLODGED ITSELF FROM THE INTAKE AIR BOX AND BEEN SUCKED UP IN TO THE INTAKE OF THE ACFT. THIS HAD CUT OFF ALL AIR TO THE ENG AND THE ENG THEN STOPPED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RUBBER GASKET WAS A MODIFICATION OF THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION WHICH DID NOT CALL FOR A GASKET. BECAUSE OF WARPING OF THE ORIGINAL FIBERGLAS HOUSING ALLOWING LEAKAGE PAST THE AIR FILTER THE GASKET WAS INSTALLED WITH A BONDING SEALANT. THE SEALANT FAILED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 200 HOURS OF USE. IT IS NOW HELD IN PLACE WITH RIVETS.