Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Private; Other Tailwheel; complex
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 23.1; Flight Crew Total 170.6; Flight Crew Type 168.9
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
After preflight at the airplane's home base of ZZZ; I departed alone for ZZZ1. All systems are normal at this time. In ZZZ1; I take four (4) friends for short; individual flights totaling 0.9 hours. I get 5 gallons of 100LL from the ZZZ1 self service fuel pump; a pump I am familiar with; before beginning my return flight to ZZZ. I am accompanied by Name; as a non-pilot passenger to help with the ground handling and hangaring of the airplane at ZZZ. I preflight the airplane; inspecting control surfaces; landing gear; engine compartment; oil level; and fuel sump. I have 10 gallons of fuel at takeoff; equivalent to at least 1.5 hours of flying with reserves. Engine start up is normal; as is run up. No indicators of any malfunction were present. My passenger and I take off from Runway XX around XA:30pm and head south-south-east to fly over [named] Lake while climbing to 6;500 feet at a consistent vertical rate of 200-300 ft/min. At approximately XB:10 I begin my descent from 6;500 ft. At 5;500 ft. I notice RPMs are hovering around 1;400. I open the throttle to return power and the tachometer does not change. Our rate of descent is -500 ft/min and airspeed at 90 mph. I pitch to best glide speed of 60 mph and begin to try to restore power through carb heat application and cycling the magnetos. No change in tachometer as we cross 4;000 feet. I declare to my passenger our engine is out and we will be making an off field landing. Searching for southward facing open fields; I locate my landing spot and begin to circle over the field. At 500 ft. I cross Farm Road X and prepare for final landing in the field I have selected. I fly over the hay field; clear the fence; and touch down in the cow pasture. As the wheels touch down; the prop stops wind milling and I apply brakes to prevent a collision with the next fence. Once the plane is stopped I instruct my passenger to get out of the plane and meet me at our rendezvous point behind the tail; power off radios; magnetos; and shut off the fuel. It is XB:18. Taking a few moments to collect myself; I attempt to restart the airplane. The engine starts and runs for 1 minute; but shortly dies thereafter. With the sun starting to move lower in the sky; my passenger and I begin walking to find the property owner. The owners arrive; the [local authorities are sent] to assess the situation; and the FAA is contacted. No damage to any persons; property; or the airplane are sustained.
Pilot reported engine failure during cruise descent and executed a safe landing in a field.