What happened
The incident occurred during a local flight operation. While the aircraft was in the process of descending toward the airport, the engine ceased functioning without warning. The pilot initiated a forced landing procedure, selecting a nearby road as the landing site.
During the landing roll, environmental conditions played a critical role in the outcome. A sudden gust of wind pushed the airplane off the paved surface. As the aircraft left the road, it ground looped violently. This loss of directional control led to a collision with the surrounding terrain, causing the nose section to overturn.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft's engine components. The examination focused on identifying the root cause of the sudden power loss. The inspection revealed significant structural failure within the engine assembly. Specifically, the manifold was found to have cracked and separated just above the carburetor. This mechanical failure prevented the engine from operating effectively.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was mechanical failure of the engine's fuel delivery system. The separation of the manifold above the carburetor directly caused the engine to quit during the descent phase. Additionally, wind gusts exacerbated the situation by pushing the aircraft off the intended landing path during the roll-out. The combination of the sudden power loss and the subsequent loss of control resulted in the ground loop and collision with terrain.