What happened
The pilot initiated a planned 10-minute flight with both fuel tanks containing more than 5 gallons of fuel and all aircraft systems operating normally. Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot entered the traffic pattern. During the descent, the pilot applied carburetor heat and retarded the throttle.
While turning onto the base leg, the pilot advanced the throttle to increase engine power. At that moment, the engine experienced a loss of power described as 'blubbering' before failing completely. Because the aircraft could not glide to the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing in a soft field located next to the airport. The impact caused the airplane to nose over. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An FAA coordinator inspected the wreckage at the accident site. The examination included the powerplant, induction system, engine controls, and magnetos. Additionally, officials performed functional examinations of the carburetor and the ignition switch. The investigation found no evidence of mechanical malfunctions, and the specific reason for the engine power interruption could not be determined.