Incident Overview
Pilots of a single-engine aircraft were conducting a simulated forced landing exercise. After initiating a go-around at 600 feet, normal engine power was reported. However, as the aircraft climbed through 800 feet, engine power unexpectedly decreased to idle, and attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilots subsequently performed a forced landing in a field, during which the aircraft nosed over.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, the carburetor was replaced, and the engine subsequently operated to full power without issue. Inspection of the original carburetor revealed a 3/32-inch diameter portion of an insect lodged in the mixture metering sleeve, which blocked the pickup to the fuel discharge nozzle. The fragment was deemed too large to have entered the carburetor through the fuel inlet screen.
Carburetor History
The carburetor had been overhauled in October 1993 and was installed on the accident aircraft on August 5, 1994. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 50 flight hours since installation prior to the incident.