Accident Details
According to the pilot, the flight departed following a normal engine run-up with the cowl flaps open. During normal cruise flight, the pilot leaned the mixture to 50 degrees rich of peak. While returning to land, the pilot observed the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge indicate past the maximum red line limit. The pilot further stated that the engine began "faltering."
Pilot Actions
In response, the pilot pushed the mixture to full rich, repositioned the fuel selector, turned the electric boost pump switch to high, and repositioned the magneto switch from both to left, right, and then back to both, all with negative results. The forced landing was executed in a field, after which the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Post-Accident Examination
During a post-accident engine run, the engine operated normally. Each magneto was correctly timed. The position of the cowl flaps at the time of departure and prior to the engine failure could not be verified.