What happened
The pilot was conducting an approach and landing attempt on an unpaved ridgetop location rather than a designated airport. Conditions at the site included a left crosswind component of 20 knots, with gusts reaching up to 30 knots. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced back into the air. In response, the pilot applied full throttle in an effort to go around or stabilize the descent. However, the engine failed to accelerate rapidly from idle as expected. Recognizing the lack of power, the pilot closed the throttle to attempt a landing on the remaining strip. The aircraft drifted toward the right side of the available surface and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical performance of the engine during the critical phase of the attempted go-around. Examination revealed that the engine did not respond with the necessary acceleration from idle to full power when commanded by the pilot. This mechanical failure or delay in throttle response prevented the aircraft from gaining sufficient lift and control authority to avoid the nosedown impact.
Findings
Contributing factors included the challenging weather conditions, specifically the strong and gusty crosswind, which made off-airport ridgetop operations inherently difficult. The pilot's decision to attempt a landing on an unprepared surface added significant risk. The critical mechanical issue was the engine's inability to accelerate rapidly from idle, which eliminated the possibility of a successful go-around after the initial bounce.