Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 2000; Flight Crew Type 2
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Loss of power in flight; precautionary landing in open field.Plane was purchased and a condition inspection was completed. A program letter was provided to FSDO and receipt was confirmed. Plane was run for an extended period of time and was being flown from ZZZ to ZZZ1. Engine operated normally for 1.5 hrs prior to issue. Engine started to lose power and small amounts of smoke were produced. The plane is a STOL plane and I elected to land in an open field instead of attempting to fly over a populated area toward the airport. There was no damage to the plane; and a normal landing was made. We requested priority handling with tower when we elected to land in grass. We were a flight of two.
I was lead pilot/plane in a flight of two from ZZZ to ZZZ1.I was in contact with approach as a flight of two. The other plane referred to as 'plane 2' in the flight had engine trouble and partial loss of power. I requested priority handling for the aircraft in distress. They elected to land in an open field with no damage to plane and no injuries.The [plane] that landed in the field is a short take off and landing aircraft and equipped to land in grass. A normal landing was made.I in 'plane 1' circled over head as requested by ATC to ensure the pilot evacuated the plane safely and to report location to ATC to relay to police/emergency response.ATC was contacted via telephone by the pilot in 'plane 2' after precautionary landing
Pilot reported engine power loss in cruise and elected to land in grass near the destination airport.