Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while cruising, the airplane's engine began running rough. After attempts to resolve or identify the issue failed, the pilot performed a precautionary landing in a nearby open field.
Post-Landing Actions
Following the landing, the pilot inspected the airplane's systems. He stated, "...I ran the engine rpm up and down searching for any kind of noticeable miss or any other tell-tale sign that there may be a problem." After checking various systems, he decided to attempt a takeoff from the field.
Takeoff Attempt and Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the airplane rose into ground effect but then drifted back down, touching the ground. He stated, "...the airplane rose into ground effect, but then drifted down out of it, coming back down to the earth." The pilot then aborted the takeoff. However, during the rollout, the airplane encountered rising terrain and became airborne again. When it touched down a second time, it hit rough, uneven ground and nosed over. The nose gear collapsed during this sequence.
Outcome
The accident resulted in damage to the nose gear. No other damage or injuries are specified in the report.