Flight Event
During a descent with the carburetor heat on, the pilot added power twice to verify engine performance. No difficulty was noted. However, when the throttle was advanced to level off at 1800 ft MSL, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine.
Forced Landing
During the forced landing, the airplane struck a ditch as the pilot was crossing below power lines. The aircraft continued across a road and subsequently hit a fence.
Investigation Findings
An investigation revealed continuity in the engine controls. The fuel line fittings on both wing tanks separated from impact, allowing fuel to drain from the aircraft. No blockage, contamination, or pre-crash discrepancies were found in the fuel system. Subsequently, a fuel system was improvised and the engine was started and run successfully.