Incident Overview
A pilot flying a single-engine airplane at 4,500 feet during cruise flight experienced engine shaking and a partial loss of power. The pilot decided to divert to a nearby airport and attempted to troubleshoot the issue by adjusting the mixture and applying carburetor heat. The engine briefly regained power but then lost all power shortly afterward.
Emergency Landing
Realizing the airplane would not reach the airport, the pilot chose to land in a field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear encountered a rut in the field, causing the airplane to nose over and come to rest inverted.
Post-Accident Examination
According to the operator, there was plenty of fuel onboard after the accident. A mechanic who examined the engine reported no anomalies. Weather conditions at the time were a temperature of 22°C (72°F) and a dew point of 14°C (57°F). A review of carburetor icing probability charts indicated that these conditions corresponded to "moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at glide power."
Analysis
The loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing resulted in the airplane nosing over after the nose gear struck a rut. The carburetor icing probability charts suggested that icing conditions were present, which may have contributed to the engine power loss, though the engine examination found no mechanical issues.