Incident Overview
During a training flight, the instructor closed the throttle to simulate an engine failure. In response, the student added carburetor heat before establishing a proper glide. The instructor removed the carburetor heat and advised the student of the correct sequence. Subsequently, the instructor added carburetor heat, opened the throttle slightly, and cleared the engine during descent. The student selected a field for the simulated forced landing.
Power Loss and Forced Landing
At approximately 300 feet above ground level, the instructor added power to recover. The engine accelerated to partial power but then cut out. The instructor attempted twice more to restore full power but was unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed in a beet field located 10 miles southwest of the destination airport. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel struck a ditch and was sheared off. The aircraft traveled about 200 feet, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident engine run conducted by an FAA inspector failed to reveal evidence that would explain the reported loss of power. The ambient temperature was 41°F, and the dew point was 27°F.