Introduction
During a cruise flight, an aircraft experienced an abrupt and complete loss of engine power. The power loss was attributed to the blockage of both the primary and alternate air inlets by a foreign object: a rat's nest. This event necessitated an immediate forced landing.
Incident Details
The pilot executed a forced landing to the only suitable area available. The aircraft touched down without incident; however, during the landing roll, it struck three fences. The sequence of events highlights the pilot's successful touchdown but subsequent collision with ground obstacles during deceleration.
Cause
The blockage that led to the power loss occurred when the air inlet spring failed. This failure allowed the rat's nest to enter the main air inlet throat, resulting in air starvation to the engine. Both the primary and alternate air inlets became obstructed by the nest, depriving the engine of the necessary airflow for combustion. The spring failure was the mechanical trigger that enabled the foreign object to reach the intake system.