What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On a flight from thermopolis, Wyoming to casper, Wyoming at a cruise altitude of 9,500 feet MSL the engine, which had been producing 2500 RPM, began "surging" and started to lose power. Carburetor heat and mixture adjustment did not restore power and the pilot made an emergency landing on ranch land. During landing roll the nose gear collapsed along with both main gears. During the week of may 24, 2004 the carburetor will be inspected, further investigation is required. (-23 amendment) the fuel system was inspected by the NTSB on June 23, 2004, the examination of the selector revealed a considerable amount of fine grit inside the fuel screen. Similar grit was seen inside the fuel tank. This grit caused fuel starvation to the engine.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON A FLIGHT FROM THERMOPOLIS, WYOMING TO CASPER, WYOMING AT A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 9,500 FEET MSL THE ENGINE, WHICH HAD BEEN PRODUCING 2500 RPM, BEGAN "SURGING" AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER. CARBURETOR HEAT AND MIXTURE ADJUSTMENT DID NOT RESTORE POWER AND THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON RANCH LAND. DURING LANDING ROLL THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED ALONG WITH BOTH MAIN GEARS. DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 24, 2004 THE CARBURETOR WILL BE INSPECTED, FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED. (-23 AMENDMENT) THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED BY THE NTSB ON JUNE 23, 2004, THE EXAMINATION OF THE SELECTOR REVEALED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FINE GRIT INSIDE THE FUEL SCREEN. SIMILAR GRIT WAS SEEN INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS GRIT CAUSED FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.