Accident Sequence
The pilot, who held a total of 1,859 flight hours with 12 hours in the accident airplane, planned a one-hour flight to practice for his airplane sea rating in a float-equipped aircraft. During the flight, the engine lost 100 revolutions per minute (RPM) on four or five separate occasions. At approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered and lost power entirely. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. Upon touchdown, the airplane impacted the terrain and nosed over.
Post-Accident Examination
Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuselage was buckled. A subsequent postaccident inspection and test run of the engine failed to identify any mechanical anomalies.
Weather Conditions
The nearest weather reporting facility, located 10 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, recorded a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius (C) and a dew point of 18 degrees C at the time of the accident. Review of a carburetor ice probability chart indicated that these temperature and dew point values were conducive to serious icing conditions at glide power. The airplane was equipped with carburetor heat, but the pilot stated that he did not use it during the flight.