Accident Details
During a short final approach for landing, the pilot reduced power, at which point the engine failed completely. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground abruptly, approximately 200 feet from the approach end of the landing runway. The impact caused the aircraft to flip over, and it came to rest in an inverted position.
Post-Accident Investigation
A post-accident investigation was conducted, which revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or difficulty that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The engine was tested and started and ran normally at low power settings. However, due to damage sustained in the accident, including a broken engine mount and damage to the propeller, the engine could only be run at low power settings.
Findings
The investigation did not identify any pre-existing mechanical issues that could account for the engine failure experienced by the pilot. The engine's ability to operate normally under low power conditions suggests that the failure may have been related to operational factors or fuel system issues, though no specific cause was determined.
Conclusion
The accident involved a complete loss of engine power during a critical phase of flight, leading to a hard landing short of the runway and a subsequent nose-over. The investigation found no mechanical defects that would have caused the power loss.