What happened
The accident occurred during the initial climb phase of flight. The pilot was operating the aircraft when the left engine suddenly lost power while the plane was climbing through approximately 150 feet above ground level. In response to the emergency, the pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft back toward the airport. However, reports indicate that there was insufficient altitude to clear a line of trees near the end of the runway. The impact resulted in extensive damage to the nose, engine, landing gear, wings, instrument panel, and cockpit.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage to determine the cause of the power loss. They discovered that the mixture control cable was broken near the mixture control arm of the carburetor. Although this area had sustained impact damage, a microscopic examination of the fracture surface revealed characteristics typical of a tensile overload of a ductile material. This suggests the cable failed due to excessive tension rather than fatigue or pre-existing defects.
Findings
Further mechanical checks were conducted to rule out other potential causes. The investigation confirmed that there was sufficient fuel on board and no fuel contamination was found. Additionally, the magnetos produced a spark, and compression was present in all cylinders, indicating that the engine's internal mechanical systems were functional prior to the cable failure.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of regular inspection of engine control linkages. A single point of failure in a control cable can lead to immediate loss of engine power, leaving the pilot with minimal altitude and limited options for recovery.