Incident
During a training flight, an instructor pulled the mixture to idle cut off to simulate an engine failure for the student. When the instructor attempted to restart the engine, the starter would not turn the propeller. This necessitated a forced landing, which was made in a rice paddy. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
Starter Examination
After the incident, the starter was tested and found to develop 50% of its designed cranking power. The starter also made grinding noises during the test. Inspection of the unit revealed that it had 24-volt brushes installed instead of the required 12-volt brushes. Further examination showed that the starter was not lubricated, had a dry Bendix coupling, and was cracked at the rear bearing housing.
Maintenance Records
A complete review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed no historical information on the starter regarding its date of manufacture, overhaul, or installation on the engine.