PA-18/19 Super Cub
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 5600; Flight Crew Type 150
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Flying in a personal PA-18 Super Cub to a friend's cabin; I experienced an engine failure at 800 feet AGL.  I had just flown an initial overhead to the strip where another aircraft was landing. I proceeded northbound to let the other aircraft back taxi and exit the strip. Approximately 3 miles north of the strip I made a shallow bank right turn when the engine lost power; I checked the mixture full rich; primer closed; and pulled carb heat; by the time I got my hand to the fuel selector switch the engine and prop had stopped. I selected the right tank (13 gallons of fuel) and hit the starter. The starter would not engage and turn the prop over. I tried this three more times before I gave up and found a good spot to put the aircraft on the ground. I made my approach to the swamp bog; over some small trees and touched down approximately 50 feet past the last tree. Airspeed was around 50 KTS; I pulled full flaps. The swamp marsh provided good cushion for touch down and the 31' tires kept the airplane on top of the terrain. As I slowed down the marsh turned into a small bog and the airplane nosed over. It came to rest upside down with the tail sitting 4 feet in the air. The slow rotation and soft soil along with water did little damage to the aircraft. Because the aircraft had minimal damage; the NTSB considered it a forced landing incident. Preflight inspections found no Mechanical issues; and log books were up to date. Before starting the trip there were 5 gallons of fuel in the left tank; approximately 1/4 on the gage; and 3/4-full on the right (15 gallons). This was 2.5 hours of fuel. The flight plan called for a 15 minutes flight and the incident happened 12 minutes after takeoff.
PA18 pilot experiences engine failure during approach to a small airstrip.  The engine cannot be restarted before it is necessary to land in a bog short of the runway.  The aircraft flips as it slows but no damage or injuries are reported.