What happened
During the final approach phase of flight, the pilot advanced the throttle lever to increase engine power. Immediately following this action, the engine ceased operating. Unable to maintain altitude or airspeed, the pilot executed a forced landing onto an adjacent cabbage patch. Upon impact, the nose landing gear sheared off, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and nosed over.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the throttle cable housing had separated from its mounting point. Specifically, the failure occurred in the area where the housing is clamped to the rear of the engine mount. This mechanical separation prevented the transmission of throttle input to the engine, leading to the loss of power.
Findings
The investigation determined that the throttle cable housing failed at the clamp attachment point on the rear of the engine mount. This failure resulted in a complete loss of engine power during a critical phase of flight. The subsequent forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the nose gear and airframe.
Safety message
Regular inspection of throttle control linkages and cable clamping mechanisms is essential to prevent separation failures that can lead to sudden power loss.