Incident Overview
During a cruise phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a loss of power. The student pilot reported that after the initial power loss, carburetor heat was applied without any change in engine RPM. Subsequently, the pilot applied full throttle, but the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude, resulting in a forced landing in a soybean field.
Post-Incident Inspection
Following the event, the engine was test-run. During this test, the engine reportedly developed close to full power, indicating that power restoration was possible under ground conditions.
Sequence of Events
The flight proceeded normally until the power loss occurred. The student pilot's first action was to apply carburetor heat, which is a standard procedure for suspected carburetor icing, but no RPM increase was observed. The pilot then advanced the throttle to the full-open position, but the aircraft continued to lose altitude. With insufficient altitude to reach a suitable airport or landing area, the pilot executed a forced landing in a soybean field, which resulted in the aircraft coming to rest without reported structural damage or injuries.
Engine Performance
After recovery, the engine was subjected to a ground run. The engine started and ran smoothly, achieving nearly its full rated power output. The cause of the in-flight power loss remains undetermined based solely on the information provided, as no mechanical anomaly was evident during the post-incident test.