Incident Description
A pilot flying an aircraft equipped with a retractable engine took off using the engine and then retracted it after reaching the soaring area. After finishing soaring, the pilot extended the engine and attempted to restart it. When the engine failed to start after several attempts, the pilot decided to perform a forced landing in an open field.
Sequence of Events
During the forced landing, the aircraft was low to the ground when the pilot abandoned further restart attempts. Due to the low altitude, the pilot did not have time to retract the engine and also forgot to extend the wing flaps. As a result, the aircraft touched down with the engine extended and the flaps in the up position, leading to an excessive rate of descent.
Damage
Upon impact, both wings flexed downward and contacted the terrain. One wing became stuck in soft dirt, causing the aircraft to spin around. The structure of the aircraft sustained substantial damage during this event.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, the engine failed to restart because he had forgotten to move the ignition switch to the 'on' position before attempting the start. He also reported that he had recently purchased the aircraft and did not use a checklist for the engine start or a before-landing checklist. Additionally, the pilot noted that the gliders he was previously accustomed to flying did not have wing flaps.