Flight Events
The pilot of an experimental airplane was cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when a fluctuation in fuel flow was observed. Shortly thereafter, the turboprop engine lost power. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot prepared for a forced landing onto a road.
Forced Landing and Contact
During the descent, at about 100 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot initiated a turn to assess traffic on the road. As the airplane crossed the road, the left wingtip and the left main landing gear made hard contact with the asphalt surface. The airplane subsequently came to rest upright in a ditch that ran parallel to the road.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the fuel system by the pilot revealed a caterpillar lodged in the forward-facing vent of the right wing fuel tank. The obstruction was identified as the likely reason for the fuel flow fluctuation and subsequent engine power loss.