OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative

ENRTE FROM SEG VOR TO LAKE HENRY VOR; THE ACFT; A PA23- 160; ENTERED THE CLOUDS AT 9000 FT MSL. THE TEMP AT THAT ALT WAS MINUS 18 DEGS C. THE PLANE WAS IMMEDIATELY IN A HVY SNOW SQUALL. APPROX 45 SECONDS AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUD; I TRIED TO APPLY CARB HEAT TO BOTH ENGS. THE CTL FOR THE R ENG WORKED CORRECTLY. THE CTL ON THE L ENG COULD ONLY BE MOVED APPROX 1/3 OF ITS NORMAL TRAVEL. I INFORMED WILKES-BARRE APCH OF MY DIFFICULTY. I ASKED IF THEY HAD PLT RPTS ON THE CLOUD TOPS -- THEY DID NOT. THEY APPROVED MY CLBING TO 11000 FT MSL IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLR THE CLOUDS. UPON REACHING 11000 FT MSL; THE PLANE WAS STILL IN THE CLOUDS. THE PLANE HAD ACCUMULATED APPROX 1/2 INCH OF RIME ICE. I ASKED FOR A DEV TO THE E TO CLR THE CLOUDS. MY REQUEST TO DEVIATE TO THE E WAS DENIED. WILKES-BARRE APPROVED A DSCNT TO 5000 FT MSL TO WARMER AIR. DURING MY DSCNT; I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT ZNY AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN ADVISED OF MY PROB. AT 5000 FT MSL; THE L ENG CARB HEAT CTL FREED UP. THE ENG FAILED TO PRODUCE THRUST. FUEL PRESSURE WAS DECREASING. I TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS. THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN 5000 FT MSL. I TRIED TO BRING THE ENG INTO PROPER OP BY ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE AND THROTTLE CTLS FOR THE L ENG. I REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. CTR GAVE ME A HDG. AT 4000 FT MSL; THE ACFT WAS BELOW THE CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY WAS APPROX 2 1/2 TO 3 MI. I FEATHERED THE L ENG. THE ACFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT ON THE R ENG. THE R ENG LOST PWR. THE ACFT GLIDED TO A SWAMPY AREA. I MADE A GEAR UP LNDG INTO THE SWAMP. MY PAX DID NOT RECEIVE ANY APPARENT INJURY DURING THE LNDG; BUT I STRUCK MY FACE AGAINST THE RADIOS AND RECEIVED FACIAL CUTS. I LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE; THAT WHEN THESE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS (MINUS 18 DEGS C AND MOISTURE) EXIST; AND IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT CONTINUED FLT AT PRESENT HDG AND ALT WILL CAUSE THE PLANE TO ENTER CLOUDS: 1) TO IMMEDIATELY REQUEST AN ALT OR HDG CHANGE THAT WILL KEEP THE ACFT CLR OF THE CLOUDS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. 2) TO CONTINUE FLT IN THESE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS TO APPLY CARB HEAT AND LEAN THE FUEL MIXTURE FOR OPTIMUM ENG OP BEFORE ENTERING THE CLOUDS. 3) IF A LARGE AMOUNT OF CARB ICE IS ALREADY PRESENT; AVOID DROWNING THE ENG WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER AT ONE TIME BY MODULATING THE CARB HEAT ON AND OFF UNTIL THE ICE IS GONE.