What happened
The aircraft was initially climbing toward a planned cruise altitude of 8500 feet when the engine began to lose power. This degradation in performance continued until the engine quit entirely. The pilot contacted an accompanying aircraft to declare an emergency and proceeded to make an unplanned landing in a plowed field nearby.
During the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over. There were no reports of injuries sustained during the incident.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed that the intake filter had been improperly installed. This installation error effectively blocked air from entering the induction system, leading to the loss of power.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the improper installation of the engine intake filter. This mechanical oversight restricted airflow and caused the engine to fail during climb.