20021027033749A

(-23) Aircraft departed runway 23 at geneva aire estates and at approximately 100/150 feet above the runway lost all engine power. The pilot attempted to land the aircraft on the southbound lane of highway 12, which is adjacent to airport property. The pilot landed the aircraft in the southern drainage ditch/backslope, striking the grass-covered backslope with the right wingtip. The aircraft struck the ground with a high vertical moment collapsing the main landing gear. The right wingtip, catching the high grass, spun the aircraft so that it slid tail first in the drainage ditch until the aircraft came to rest. Inspection of the aircraft in the owner's hangar revealed that the propeller was not turning when the aircraft struck the ground. The lower cowling had come in contact with the ground and was sheared from the airframe. The lower portion of the carburetor (bowl) was sheared from it's mating half at initial impact. The upper half of the carburetor (venturi/throttle butterfly) remained attached to the engine and was found operating normally. There was ample fuel in the fuel tanks, the electric fuel pump and the mechanical engine driven pump were tested and operated normally. There was ample compression on all cylinders. The left magneto was operating normally and fired on all cylinders. The right ignition system is electronic and was not tested. It was not possible to run the engine during the initial inspection. An engine run will be performed when it is possible to do so.