RivetBangers.com

heard a "pop" from the engine and lost power. made a water landing with 2 aboard and no injuries. the pilot appears to have done everything correctly. good job! from the photos, I am unable to determine if the flaps were up or down for this ditching.

why did the engine fail abruptly?

The pilot added full throttle, verified the mixture was full rich, cycled the magnetos, and switched the fuel selector position to the other tank. Despite the pilot’s troubleshooting attempts, the engine did not restart.

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/ ... 105169/pdf

Location: Galice, OR Accident Number: WPR22LA193
Date & Time: May 31, 2022, 09:40 Local Registration: N298DM
Aircraft: Vans RV-8 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted
Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

I only know of one other water landing where the aircraft did not flip over. some debate whether the flaps were extended or retracted. from one photo from this sequence, it appears the flaps are retracted, and a very nose high attitude water landing was executed.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2021/08/v ... urred.html