Incident Overview
A student pilot was performing turns when the engine lost power, necessitating a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft dirt and nosed over.
Pilot's Report
The student pilot stated that the power loss was caused by water in the fuel. He reported that during the preflight inspection, he had drained approximately one pint of water from one of the fuel tanks. In an attempt to remove remaining water, he rocked the wings and lowered the tail. The pilot also noted that heavy rain had fallen over the preceding two weeks, and the airplane had been parked outside with less-than-full tanks during that period.
Post-Mishap Examination
A mechanic who examined the aircraft after the incident found water in the carburetor. The fuel tank filler-cap gaskets were intact and pliable, indicating no obvious seal failure.
The airplane sustained damage from the nose-over, but no further details on injuries or aircraft condition were provided beyond the pilot's account and the mechanic's findings.