What happened
The flight was proceeding through a descending turn transitioning from the downwind leg to the base leg of the traffic pattern. During this phase of flight, the pilot increased engine power to maintain airspeed and configuration for the approach. Despite the throttle input, the engine failed to respond with the expected increase in power output.
In an effort to restore engine performance, the pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and activated the electric fuel boost pump. These actions did not result in any improvement in engine power. The pilot then returned the fuel selector to the left tank position. With no further options available to restore propulsion, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure directed toward an open field adjacent to the airport.
The aircraft touched down on the unpaved surface with significant vertical velocity, resulting in a hard landing impact. During the subsequent ground roll, the nose gear collapsed into the soft earth beneath it. This structural failure caused the airplane to rotate forward and come to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had sustained substantial damage due to the hard landing and subsequent nose-over. The collapse of the nose gear was attributed to the impact forces encountered during the touchdown on soft terrain following the loss of engine power.