Accident Details
On September 21, 2016, at 1236 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration N4470X, experienced a loss of engine power while at 3,500 ft. The pilot attempted to restart the engine using the fuel boost pump, mixture adjustments, and tank switching; the propeller rotated but the engine did not start. The pilot then conducted an off-airport landing in a soybean field. During touchdown, the nose gear dug into the dirt, causing the airplane to nosed over. The pilot and passenger exited the aircraft by kicking out the windscreen.
The private pilot received a minor injury, and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from Norwalk-Huron County Airport (5A1), Norwalk, Ohio, with an intended destination of Carroll County-Tolson Airport (TSO), Carrollton, Ohio.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane. The inspector verified fuel flow to the engine, spark from the magnetos, compression on all cylinders, and engine continuity. The air intake duct was found crushed, which was likely a result of the accident sequence. The examination revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have caused the loss of engine power. The temperature and dewpoint were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power.