Accident
A pilot conducting a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 experienced an engine failure while circling an off-airport landing site. The airplane subsequently made an emergency descent and impacted muskeg terrain.
Circumstances
The pilot reported that he was circling a potential off-airport landing site at a reduced power setting. When he applied throttle, the engine quit. During taxi for takeoff prior to the flight, the airplane's engine had exhibited carburetor ice. The pilot stated that he believed the engine failure was due to carburetor ice, as he had not applied carburetor heat when he reduced power.
Damage
During the landing on muskeg, the main landing gear attachments and left wing sustained damage. The pilot indicated that there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Analysis
The pilot's account indicates that carburetor ice may have been present during the flight. The sequence of events—reducing power without carburetor heat application and subsequent engine failure when throttle was increased—is consistent with carburetor ice accumulation. No investigative determination of cause was provided in the source.