Accident Overview
The aircraft experienced a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot noticed a drop in revolutions per minute (rpm) and applied carburetor heat, after which the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing in a snow-covered field, during which the airplane nosed over.
Pilot and Owner Actions
According to a telephone conversation with the aircraft owner, he had flown the airplane the previous day. After a normal landing, the engine quit. Upon exiting the aircraft, the owner observed fuel running out of the carburetor. Tapping on the carburetor stopped the fuel flow. The owner contacted a mechanic, who was not an aircraft mechanic, and was told the problem was due to dirt in the carburetor. The mechanic advised running the engine and then shutting off the fuel to purge the dirt.
On the day of the accident, the pilot and the aircraft owner started the engine and shut off the fuel, allowing the engine to quit. The pilot stated that the owner said this procedure would fix the problem.
Investigation Findings
A post-accident inspection of the carburetor revealed no anomalies that could be associated with the reported problem of a sticking float. The fuel system was also inspected and no anomalies were found. The main fuel tank contained between six and seven gallons of fuel at the time of the accident.