C170 PLT MADE OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG DUE TO ENG FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ACFT OR PROPERTY DAMAGED OR PERSONAL INJURIES.

Narrative

FLEW C170 OFF FARM STRIP 240 DEGS 13 NM OFF AHN VORTAC TO DO SOME PRACTICE STOP-AND-GOES AT ATHENS BEN EPPS ARPT. APPROX 5.4 NM FROM AHN; I WANTED TO SEE IF A FRIEND WAS HOME; SO I REDUCED PWR AND PULLED CARB HEAT TO 'ON.' THE ENG FELT LIKE IT HAD SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO GET CARB HEAT OFF; THROTTLE BACK IN; MIXTURE IN; SWITCHED TANKS; TRIED THE STARTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD THE BEN EPPS TWR ON RADIO (126.3) TO GET PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CLASS D AIRSPACE; SO I XMITTED MY PROB TO THEM: 'ATHENS TWR; XXXX HAS ENG FAILURE. I'LL HAVE TO PUT IT DOWN.' ALSO TOLD TWR MY POS. TWR REQUESTED I STAY ON FREQ TO LET THEM KNOW IF I MADE IT DOWN OK. OTHER THAN MY KNEES KNOCKING TOGETHER; I MADE IT OVER A PWR LINE AND FENCE TO A SMOOTH LNDG WITHOUT DAMAGE TO MYSELF; ACFT OR PROPERTY. THE NEXT DAY THE A&P MECH FOUND 7 SMALL ROUND ACORNS THAT WERE SUCKED INTO THE CARB VENTURI TUBE WHEN I PULLED THE CARB HEAT ON. THERE WERE 15 MORE ACORNS STILL IN THE AIR BOX. THE ENG LOG ENTRY 'PWR LOSS' WAS SIGNED OFF BY A&P MECH. ACFT PUT BACK TOGETHER AND CHKED OUT AS AIRWORTHY. AFTER THE PWR LINE WAS LOWERED; I CHKED OUT THE ACFT AND ENG TO MY SATISFACTION AND FLEW THE ACFT ON TO A BELATED LNDG AT ATHENS BEN EPPS ARPT.