Incident Overview
Approximately forty-five minutes into a flight, a student pilot reported that the engine rpm dropped and subsequently lost power. Attempts to restore full engine power were unsuccessful.
Emergency Landing
The pilot executed an emergency landing in an open field. After touchdown, the nose gear assembly sheared off, and the engine firewall sustained impact damage. A fuel line near the chin cowling ruptured, resulting in an unknown quantity of fuel being spilled.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft's fuel system recovered about one quart of liquid; 90% of this liquid was clear water. Water was also found in the carburetor bowl and the filter assembly.
Refueling History
According to reports, the airplane had been refueled approximately two days before the accident. Subsequent to that refueling, the area experienced severe thunderstorm activity. The security of the fuel caps after refueling was not confirmed. The pilot did not report checking or securing the fuel caps during the preflight inspection.