I checked the wiring, made sure it was all good and tight then decided to fly it back home. I started the engine and it sounded good. I did a good check out and run-up, then took-off down Runway 36 heading for home. I climbed to 600 ft. AGL since it wasn't that far to go.

As I arrived back home, I was closing in on final so I set up for landing and throttled back. It died again at 600 feet. Okay... here I go again. This time a green pasture was to my right and in back of me. I dropped the nose to keep the 55 MPH airspeed because I had to make a 180 degree turn. I leveled out and did a small slip to avoid a fence on roll out. I could see some thick grass on the other side of the field and helped greatly in stopping me.

The deputy sheriff and some local folks came to check on me. My plane and I recieved no damage. This time I decided not to test fate again and borrowed a trailer to haul it back to my hangar. I found that the front cylinder had siezed up. I've had it re-done and it is back on my C-II. I broke it in but am not 100% sure what caused that cylinder to sieze since the rear one was in good shape. Anyway, it was enough excitement for this 62 year-old for a while!