Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 817; Flight Crew Type 750
Troubleshooting; Workload; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Diverted; General Evacuated
Human Factors; Aircraft; Weather
Familiarization flight with the airspace around ZZZ and carbureted C172 model with another instructor onboard. Departed ZZZ at approximately XA:00 local; After landing at ZZZ1; we departed southwest bound at 2;500'. I was flying the aircraft when we experienced a sudden loss of engine power; followed by complete engine loss. I gave controls to the other instructor and began troubleshooting / running checklists - Checked fuel selector / gauges; mixture/throttle; carb heat; and were unable to get it restarted. We turned south for a cornfield and began preparing for an off field landing while I contacted ZZZ Tower to let them know of our situation. The other instructor onboard maneuvered for a safe landing on the cornfield. Once the aircraft was secured; we exited the plane and inspected everything. No injuries or damage to the aircraft / property. I called Clearance Delivery and asked them to let ZZZ Tower know that we were okay. I spoke with various agencies over the next 30 minutes. I let them know we were okay and the plane was undamaged. We shared our location with flight school management; who then drove out and brought extra fuel. We began straining fuel; which all came back clean. Then added approx 5 gallons to each fuel tanks and did a thorough run up on the engine - All gauges were green and no issues seen. After discussing we came to the conclusion of carburetor icing affecting engine performance. We were at a relatively low cruise setting with high humidity due to showers/storms in the area. When troubleshooting in the air earlier; pulling the carb heat had no affect on engine RPM. We commenced a soft/short field takeoff from the cornfield and landed safely back at ZZZ.
Loss of RPM; suspected Carb icing. Insufficient power. Ran checklist; restart and shutdown checklist. No damage to aircraft or landing site. No injury.
Three Instructor Pilots reported an engine failure while on a familiarization flight in a single engine aircraft. The PF landed off airport in a nearby field. It was later determined the engine probably failed due to carburetor icing.