What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 3rd flight of new aircraft at sfm, pilot observed that it did not climb as well as on previous flight. Tach and other engine indications appeared normal. While on a wide downwind for runway 14, the engine suddenly stopped. His altitude was approximately 500 feet over a heavily wooded area, and he could not glide to the airport. He then made an emergency landing in a thicket of small trees and bushes. The landing was very gentle and the small trees supported the aircraft about 7 feet above the ground. The pilot was alone and was not injured. The aircraft sustained only minor damage with only a few tears to the fabric. Property damage was negligible.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 3RD FLIGHT OF NEW AIRCRAFT AT SFM, PILOT OBSERVED THAT IT DID NOT CLIMB AS WELL AS ON PREVIOUS FLIGHT. TACH AND OTHER ENGINE INDICATIONS APPEARED NORMAL. WHILE ON A WIDE DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 14, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. HIS ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET OVER A HEAVILY WOODED AREA, AND HE COULD NOT GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT. HE THEN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A THICKET OF SMALL TREES AND BUSHES. THE LANDING WAS VERY GENTLE AND THE SMALL TREES SUPPORTED THE AIRCRAFT ABOUT 7 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS ALONE AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WITH ONLY A FEW TEARS TO THE FABRIC. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS NEGLIGIBLE.