Incident Overview
A student pilot reported that the engine began to skip and lose power approximately 20 minutes after departure. The engine subsequently lost all power, prompting the student to execute a forced landing in a plowed field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
Post-Crash Examination
A post-crash examination of the airplane revealed the presence of about 2 ounces of water in the fuel strainer. Additionally, bits of metal were found in the carburetor, specifically in the main metering jet passageway. The source of the metal bits could not be determined. Investigators noted that the metal bits were too large to have passed through the fuel strainer or the carburetor filter screen.
Fuel Details
The airplane was fueled with autogas, which was obtained at the departure airport. The use of autogas in the airplane was approved under a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
Maintenance History
The airplane had been operated for approximately 123 hours since the last annual inspection, which occurred 7 months before the accident.