Accident Overview
The aircraft experienced an electrical failure in flight, prompting an emergency landing. During the landing, the aircraft collided with a tree, which caused the nose landing gear to break. The electrical system had been repaired approximately 22 hours prior to the accident due to a previous charging problem.
Emergency Landing
After the electrical failure, the pilot used matches and a flashlight to attempt to locate an airport for landing, but was unable to find one. As weather conditions continued to deteriorate, the crew decided to land in a field that appeared suitable. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear upon striking the tree.
Post-Accident Inspection
Following the accident, the alternator and voltage regulator were tested and found to be defective. Visual inspection of the alternator revealed that both brush slip rings were gouged and grooved. Additionally, one of the two wires attached to the slip ring terminal was not soldered as intended; instead, it was loosely bent around the terminal.