What happened
The pilot was operating an aircraft at a cruise altitude of 3500 feet when the engine experienced a sudden loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure. During the descent and touchdown phase, the airplane struck a ditch, which caused the aircraft to flip over.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the aircraft's propulsion system to determine the cause of the power failure. A post-accident run test was conducted on the engine, which revealed that it operated satisfactorily and showed no mechanical defects that would explain the in-flight power loss.
Findings
The investigation focused on environmental factors rather than mechanical failure. Review of a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that at the time of the incident, the aircraft was operating in conditions with a moderate probability of carburetor icing while using cruise power settings. This environmental factor is consistent with the sudden power loss and the satisfactory condition of the engine after the crash.