20210224002849A

Pilot statement to FAA inspector at the accident scene:

The pilot stated that he took off from the Winchester airport (okv) and during his climb the engine started to run very rough. He thought that maybe carburetor icing may have been an issue so he selected carb ice. He said the engine began to run worse so he selected the carb ice off. The engine began to run better and he decided to return to the Winchester airport. At 4000 feet the engine began to run rough again and finally stop running. He was able to restart the engine but it would not continue to run. At this time he decided to find a place to land the airplane as he could not make it back to the airport. He landed in a large field that was very wet and muddy. The nose gear sunk into the ground and snapped off. The airplane flipped and came to rest inverted. He stated that he did not purchase fuel in Winchester and there was approximately a half tank of fuel on board. The pilot was taken to the hospital for examination and stated that he did not sustain any injuries.

Pilot statement sent to NTSB:

I left the FBO, did a preflight walk around, started my aircraft and taxied to RUNWAY14. I was second in line so I did my run up and mag check (everything was normal). 3 aircraft landed and 1 aircraft departed, then it was my turn. I departed kokv at 1330 eastern time, from runway 14 and made a left turn to follow local traffic pattern. I continued a westernly heading to avoid flying over the city before I turned south. Upon turning south in the valley I noticed an RPM drop and the aircraft wasnt climbing as it should. I was too FAR from kokv to turn around, so I located a field and adjusted my heading accordingly. I went through a mental emergancy checklist in case of engine failure. I was loosing altitude and RPM and then around 1700' the engine stopped. I made sure the fuel was on both, mags on, carb heat was on, and mixture was rich. I pushed the engine start and nothing happened so I gave it one fuel prime and tried again and it started. I left the carb heat on and the engine was running really rough. I turned 180 back to kokv to try and make it back, but I wasn't climbing and the engine started failing. I located a field with no animals or buildings on it just incase of another engine failure. Then the engine quit again, I aimed to the field set for best glide speed. I put 7700 in the transponder and as I was comming in I felt too low so I put in one notch of flaps to get over the power lines (it worked). The landing field I chose was up hill and when I touched the ground it felt hard. I tapped the breaks and noticed the tree line coming quickly, so I tried to turn the aircraft to not hit the trees. Just behind the tree line were several homes and I didnt want parts of the aircraft to hit the house and hurt anyone. When I tried to turn the aircraft the front nose wheel broke off and the aircraft flipped over. I was a little disorented, but was able to unlatch the seat belt. I smelled fuel so I new I needed to grab my phone and anything important and get out asap. I saw my phone and my backpack which has my wallet, logbook and other inportant items so I grabbed them and kicked the door open. I crawled out and slid down the wing. I crawled about 20' away and called 911.