Incident Overview
A student pilot and passenger reported a partial power loss approximately 10 minutes into a local flight. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on a nearby rural strip but indicated that excess airspeed prevented a successful landing. Shortly thereafter, the engine failed completely, and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, the aircraft struck a canal ditch and careened into a rice field, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Post-Accident Investigation
A post-accident investigation revealed no malfunction of the engine or any of its components. Additionally, there was no evidence of fuel starvation or fuel contamination. The cause of the partial power loss and subsequent engine failure could not be attributed to mechanical or fuel-related issues based on the investigation findings.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, weather conditions included a broken cloud layer at 600 feet, visibility ranging from 2.5 to 5 miles, light rain, and fog. The temperature was 52°F, and the dew point was 51°F. According to icing probability charts, these meteorological conditions were conducive for the probability of carburetor icing.