Narrative:

I picked up a banner at ZZZ1 airport. I proceeded to fly to my customer's location. After 1 hour and 15 mins en route, I started back to ZZZ1. At 12000 ft, my motor began to run rough. At that time the engine stopped running. I proceeded to pitch the aircraft over, to reduce angle of attack, and looked for a suitable landing zone. I noticed something about 1/2 mi from my location and decided that in order to achieve this landing spot I needed to release my banner. I released the banner and headed to the landing zone. At this time I was at 700 ft and began an air restart. As soon as I applied carburetor heat, the engine started again and I proceeded to land at the nearest suitable airport. My altitude during this event was never below 700 ft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BELLANCA PLT HAS ENG FAILURE DURING TRANSIT.

Narrative: I PICKED UP A BANNER AT ZZZ1 ARPT. I PROCEEDED TO FLY TO MY CUSTOMER'S LOCATION. AFTER 1 HR AND 15 MINS ENRTE, I STARTED BACK TO ZZZ1. AT 12000 FT, MY MOTOR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. AT THAT TIME THE ENG STOPPED RUNNING. I PROCEEDED TO PITCH THE ACFT OVER, TO REDUCE ANGLE OF ATTACK, AND LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE LNDG ZONE. I NOTICED SOMETHING ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM MY LOCATION AND DECIDED THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS LNDG SPOT I NEEDED TO RELEASE MY BANNER. I RELEASED THE BANNER AND HEADED TO THE LNDG ZONE. AT THIS TIME I WAS AT 700 FT AND BEGAN AN AIR RESTART. AS SOON AS I APPLIED CARB HEAT, THE ENG STARTED AGAIN AND I PROCEEDED TO LAND AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. MY ALT DURING THIS EVENT WAS NEVER BELOW 700 FT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.