Forced Landing After Engine Power Loss Results in Power Line Collision (N2308H)

Incident Details

A forced landing occurred after a loss of engine power, during which the airplane collided with a power line and then impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the engine was not producing full power during the initial takeoff climb but elected to proceed on the cross-country flight. The engine continued to lose power, and approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, the power available was insufficient to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to land in the median of an interstate highway but did not see the power line crossing the highway.

Examination Findings

Examination of the airplane revealed that the mixture control arm on the carburetor was not connected to the cockpit control cable and was free to move. However, the mixture control system on that model of carburetor does not incorporate an idle cutoff. The pilot reported that prior to the accident, the flight had been conducted for 58 hours with the mixture control inoperative. No other discrepancies were noted that would have resulted in a loss of engine power.