20040606013619I

(-23) The pilot had taken off from the Skylane Airport (3EV) and was in cruise flight when the aircraft lost engine power. The pilot attempted a restart but was too low in altitude to try much else. He saw a wheat field and set up for an emergency landing. He was in contact with Evansville approach, but not in radar contact. He advised approach of the emergency landing and they notified the regional operations center. The pilot stated that the electric fuel pump was on and that on short final he jiggled the fuel selector and the engine started to run. The fuel selector appeared to be in between the "main and aux" position. He decided that he was too low and was committed to the field and elected to land. Once on the ground and no damage or injuries noted, the pilot restarted the engine and it ran fine. The pilot's mechanic inspected the aircraft and determined that the fuel pressure was low for idle, but sufficient for all other phase of flight. The mechanic adjusted the fuel pump for the idle setting. The Indiana state police and the local county sheriff were both dispatched to the scene. Both parties agreed that the aircraft was not damaged. The state police officer, trained in aircraft accident investigations, agreed that the wheat field was suitable to be safely flown out of. The aircraft was flown out of the field on 6/7/04 and returned to Skylane Airport.