Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting a night currency and proficiency flight. According to the pilot, the engine start and run-up were normal. After two normal takeoffs and full-stop landings, the pilot initiated a third takeoff. Climbing to 1,000 feet above ground level on the crosswind leg, the pilot reduced power to 20 inches of manifold pressure, moved the carburetor heat control to the 'on' position, and initiated a turn. During the turn, the engine suddenly stopped.
Emergency Landing
Unable to reach the runway, the pilot executed a forced landing in a soft, mushy milo field at night. During the landing, the aircraft nosed over. The extent of damage to the aircraft is not specified in the source.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the carburetor heat shroud had broken off its mounting attachment. Additionally, the flexible hose from the carburetor heat air shroud to the carburetor was almost collapsed. The ambient temperature and dew point were reported as 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 73 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. According to icing probability charts, these conditions were conducive to carburetor ice formation.
Conditions
The source notes that the temperature and dew point values, along with the charts, indicate conditions favorable for carburetor icing. However, no direct causal link between the carburetor ice and the engine stoppage is explicitly stated in the source.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that all previous flights that evening were normal. The flight was intended for night currency and proficiency, with no further details on the aircraft type or registration provided in the source.