Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Other ATP
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Aircraft
Intended flight was from my home base at ZZZ; to ZZZ1. Flight time was calculated to be about 20 minutes. Approximately 4 miles from ZZZ1 the engine power suddenly rolled back. I immediately looked for a landing field while at the same time trying to adjust the mixture and the throttle to regain power.As I was setting up to land on a field; the engine power came back up again. I deducted that the partial power failure was due to either water on the fuel tank or a clog in the fuel line. I decided to abandon the forced landing and try to land at the airport; which was only about 3 miles away. I lowered the landing gear; execute my Before Landing Checklist and set to land. The engine quit shortly after that. I had to quickly pick another forced landing spot because there were trees all around. The aircraft impacted hard; 1.2 SM from the airport. I sustained injuries.
Pilot flying RC-3 aircraft reports engine failure inflight.