Incident Details
During a descent from 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) approximately 10 miles from the destination airport, the student pilot contacted the tower and soon after reported that the engine sputtered and stopped. Attempts to restart the engine in flight were unsuccessful, and the pilot realized he could not reach the airport for a landing.
At about 400 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot observed power lines oriented north-south. He turned the aircraft north to avoid the power lines and subsequently executed a forced landing across the rows in a cornfield. During the landing roll, the airplane began to nose over, then cartwheeled before coming to rest on its main landing gear. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Aircraft and Engine Examination
No preexisting anomalies were found in the airframe or engine. After the accident, the engine was test run and started without hesitation, indicating no mechanical deficiency.
Weather Conditions
The recorded weather at the airport (GRI) at the time included wind from 130 degrees at 6 knots, clear sky, visibility 10 miles, temperature 29°C, dew point 20°C, and altimeter setting 29.87 inches of mercury. According to the Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Graph, these conditions fell within the region labeled "Serious icing - descent power."
Pilot Information
The student pilot had accumulated a total of 41 hours of flight time. The Federal Aviation Administration's Advisory Circular (AC) 20-113 details precautions against induction system icing, recommending that pilots regularly use carburetor heat under conditions conducive to atmospheric icing. Specifically, heat should be applied for a short period before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled, and left on during the descent. The circular also advises periodically advancing the power lever during descent to ensure power recovery can be achieved, and to be prepared to turn off heat after regaining power for level flight or go-around.