ACFT HIT PWR LINE.

Narrative

ON L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 6; JUST MOVED PWR LEVER TO 16 IN HG TO SLOW ACFT. TURNED BOOST PUMP ON AND SELECTED CARB HEAT. JUST STARTING TO TURN BASE WHEN ENG LOST PWR. MOVED PWR LEVER FORWARD WITH VERY LITTLE CHANGE. SELECTED R- HAND TANK; NO CHANGE; COULD PUMP PWR LEVER AND KEEP ENG RUNNING SOMEWHAT. TURNED ACFT TO HWY 75 (ON MY R-HAND) WAS GOING TO PUT IT ON HWY. MADE IT OVER 2 SETS OF PWR LINES AND CLIPPED THIRD WITH TIRE. AT THAT TIME ACFT REGAINED FULL PWR. I RETURNED TO SC42. INSPECTED ACFT; NO PROBS FOUND. SUSPECTED PROB IS CARB ICING. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR WAS FLYING A CHEROKEE 6; WITH THE 260 HP 0540 ENG. CARB ICE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE VILLAIN. THE RPTR WILL USE CARB HEAT EARLIER IN THE PATTERN FROM NOW ON. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT BUT THE PWR LINE WAS BROKEN. HE HAS NOT YET GOTTEN A BILL FROM THE PWR COMPANY. THE FAA IS CALLING THIS AN 'INCIDENT' AND HE HAS HEARD NOTHING FURTHER FROM THEM. THE RPTR STATES THAT THE FLT MANUAL FOR THE CHEROKEE 6 DOES NOT EMPHASIZE THE USE OF CARB HEAT WHEN AT REDUCED PWR. THE RPTR HAD BEEN FLYING AT REDUCED PWR FOR SOME TIME BEFORE ENTERING THE TFC PATTERN AND REDUCING PWR AGAIN WITHOUT CARB HEAT.