20051116029469A

(-23) Pilot was on approach to the New Bern airport ewn when the aircraft lost power on a 2 mile final to runway 22. The pilot stated that he had approximately 13 inches of manifold pressure and 1000 RPM as a power setting. Upon adding power to correct his glide path, the engine "sputtered" and quit. The pilot made the decision to attempt to put the aircraft in the neuse river and immediately pulled carb heat but stated "my carb ice indicator in the aircraft was not in the yellow." Passing through approximately 50 feet, the pilot pulled the mixture and opened the right door to prepare for impact. He did not know why he had not opened the left door next to him. He also moved his seat back to minimize the chance of the control yoke hitting him in the chest on impact. At approximately 30-40 feet, the pilot stated that he made a hard right turn to avoid hitting the shore and entered a spin "because his feet could not reach the pedals." The pilot stated that the aircraft hit the water inverted. Upon recovering the aircraft from the bottom of the river, all of the controls were found in the condition the pilot had indicated. The pilot stated that the aircraft logbooks were in the aircraft, however, no logbooks were found.