What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft while descending from an altitude of 8500 feet toward a target altitude of 2500 feet. At approximately 4500 feet, the engine failed without any prior warning. The pilot declared a 'MAYDAY' emergency and attempted to execute an emergency landing in a nearby field. During the approach, the aircraft struck trees located at the edge of the field and subsequently crashed upside down.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft revealed that the baffling inside the muffler had become detached. This component had jammed into the exhaust outlet, effectively stopping the flow of exhaust gases and causing the engine failure.
Findings
Toxicological testing was performed on a blood sample taken from the pilot. The analysis found that the pilot's blood contained 0.20% alcohol by volume. This level of impairment likely contributed to the inability to manage the emergency situation effectively.
Safety message
Operating an aircraft with significant alcohol in the system is extremely dangerous and illegal. Impairment severely degrades judgment, reaction time, and motor skills, which are critical for handling in-flight emergencies.