What happened
Shortly after departure, passengers aboard the aircraft reported smelling something burning. The pilot circled the airport and determined that the flight could continue safely. A short time later, the burning smell returned, followed by a loss of fuel pressure. The pilot executed an emergency landing in an open field, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the engine revealed that the fuel pressure line between the carburetor and the firewall was in a state of deterioration and had several holes in it. The area of deterioration occurred to a portion of the line that is exposed to heat from the exhaust system.