Accident Sequence
Approximately one hour after departing on a flight, while cruising at an altitude of about 2,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane's engine experienced a sudden loss of revolutions per minute (rpm). The engine ceased producing power, and the propeller continued to windmill. During the ensuing descent, the pilot performed actions to attempt a restart, including applying carburetor heat, switching the magnetos, switching fuel tanks, and adjusting the mixture and throttle controls. The engine did not restart. At an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet during the descent, the pilot abandoned further restart attempts.
Forced Landing and Examination
The pilot conducted a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane struck an embankment with the nose landing gear, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Post-accident examination of the wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The engine subsequently started and ran on the airplane after the accident. Interpolation of a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the atmospheric conditions at the time were conducive to "serious icing at glide power."