Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16; Flight Crew Total 1912; Flight Crew Type 175
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
[The] run up and magneto check was good and the engine produced full RPM on takeoff. While enroute the engine started to vibrate slightly; oil pressure was normal and temps were normal. As a precaution I changed my course to deviate around any populated areas and flew over open ground in the event of an engine total failure and forced landing. [A short time later] there was a loud bang and the engine quit. I was at 1200 feet AGL and set up a glide for landing in an open field. I landed the aircraft gear up as the field is a rice field and fairly rough. I touched down at almost stall speed and slid approximately 330 feet. I secured the cockpit and left the aircraft. Upon inspection I found a cylinder had blown off the case and embedded itself in the cowl and the piston was found in the lower cowl. I am not a mechanic; but it looks like the rod broke on #4 cylinder which hit the cylinder skirt breaking off pieces and eventually blew the cylinder from the case.
GA pilot reported executing a forced landing in a field after the engine failed in flight.