Incident Overview
A pilot on a local flight in mountainous terrain reported a complete loss of engine power while returning to the airport. During a descent, the pilot reduced power to about 60 percent, which led to the engine stopping. Applying full carburetor heat and full throttle restored engine power temporarily.
Engine Power Loss and Attempts to Restart
After resuming a shallow descent with full throttle and carburetor heat for approximately five minutes, the pilot closed the carburetor heat and continued descending at 75 percent engine power. Within less than a minute, the engine lost power entirely again. The pilot then applied carburetor heat and full throttle, along with mixture adjustments and pumping the throttle, but the engine did not restart.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot attempted a forced landing to a local highway. During the final approach, he avoided power lines by flying under them. However, he was unable to flare the airplane before touchdown. The nose strut assembly sheared off during the landing, and the right wing struck an embankment, resulting in substantial damage.
Weather Conditions
The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing during a descent.