N40512

On July 18, 1998, at 1930 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cook Teenie Two, N40512, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted in a corn field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight originated at Berrien Springs, Michigan, at 1910 edt.

In his written statement, the pilot said that he was in cruise flight approximately 500 feet above the ground when the engine rpm began slowly decreasing. The pilot initiated a climb at full power, turned on the back-up battery, and applied carburetor heat. There was no change in engine rpm. The pilot said that he planned to land on a road adjacent to a corn field. At the time, there were no people or cars in sight. While turning from base leg to final, "the plane started stalling." The pilot pushed the control stick forward to get the nose down. It was at that time that the engine lost all power. The pilot said that he was unable to get full control of the airplane back. He set the airplane down between the road and the corn field.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at a nearby hangar. The airplane's nose wheel was broken off. One of the two wooden propeller blades was broken aft. The airplane's bottom cowling and bottom forward fuselage were crushed upward. The engine was bent upward at the mounts. The engine firewall was buckled forward. The airplane's right wing showed skin wrinkles. The remainder of the airplane was undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the airplane's 9 gallon fuel tank showed it void of fuel. Examination of the airplane's fuel system and engine revealed no evidence of fuel. A State Police officer, who responded to the accident, stated that there was no smell of fuel at the accident site or on the pilot. No other anomalies with the airplane were revealed.