What happened
During the approach to the runway, the pilot reduced power to 20 inches of manifold pressure for approximately two minutes to decrease airspeed and facilitate the lowering of the landing gear. As the aircraft was abeam the runway numbers, the pilot engaged the carburetor heat. Following this action, the engine coughed and experienced a loss of power.
In response to the power loss, the pilot executed an immediate turn toward the runway. The pilot verified that the fuel pump was operational and attempted to pump the throttle, but these actions failed to restore engine performance. Realizing the aircraft would land short of the runway, the pilot performed a landing on the grass located on the left side of the runway. During the subsequent landing rollout, the aircraft impacted the far side of a drainage ditch. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An inspection of the engine was conducted following the accident. The engine started and was operated during the examination, with no anomalies noted by investigators. Environmental conditions at the time included a temperature and dew point spread of 80/70 degrees Fahrenheit, which, according to the Aviation Safety Bureau Transport Canada guide, placed the aircraft in the 'moderate icing-glide power' range for favorable icing conditions.