Accident Overview
During the return leg of a cross-country flight, the pilot descended to 400 feet above mean sea level along a beach. When attempting to increase power to level off, the engine did not respond. The pilot checked that the fuel valve was set to "BOTH" and the primer was in and locked, then attempted to restart the engine without success.
Landing and Damage
Determining the beach to be the best and safest landing option, the pilot extended the wing flaps to the full down position and landed on the sand. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear dug into the sand and collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Approximately 12 gallons of fuel remained on board after the accident.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal engine operation. After the wreckage was recovered, the engine was started and run at full power without issue.
Atmospheric Conditions
Review of a carburetor icing chart indicated that atmospheric conditions around the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. When asked, the pilot stated that he had not used carburetor heat during the descent prior to the loss of engine power.