What happened
While approaching the destination airport, the pilot attempted to increase engine power to maintain flight parameters. The engine did not respond to the input, resulting in a loss of thrust. Consequently, the pilot executed a forced landing short of the runway.
The investigation
A post-acc examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle control assembly had failed internally. The failure occurred in the section located between the firewall and the control knob. According to the FAA, the worn-out condition of this control assembly was not detectable upon a routine visual examination by maintenance personnel. The control assembly was original equipment in the airplane.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the internal failure of the throttle control assembly. This mechanical failure prevented the pilot from increasing engine power when necessary. The worn-out condition of the assembly was not detectable through standard visual inspections, and it remained original equipment in the airplane.