On November 1, 1997, a Rodgers/gaust RV-6 (registration N44JR) was involved in an aviation accident near Wellington, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine's mixture control cable broke due to fatigue at its carburetor attachment fitting. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During cruise over mountainous terrain, an experimental airplane lost all engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing on a soft, brush-covered field, and the aircraft nosed over during rollout. The pilot reported the power loss was due to a fatigue fracture of the mixture control cable at the carburetor fitting.
Accident Details
An experimental airplane experienced a sudden and complete loss of engine power while cruising over mountainous terrain. The pilot performed a forced landing onto a soft, brush-covered field. During the landing rollout, the aircraft nosed over.
Cause of Power Loss
According to the pilot, the engine power loss was caused by a fracture of the mixture control cable. The cable broke due to fatigue at its attachment fitting on the carburetor. The component had accumulated a total service time of only 114 hours at the time of the failure.
Aircraft and Conditions
No further specifics about the aircraft type, registration, or other conditions are available from the source. The accident occurred without mention of injuries or additional damage beyond the nose-over.
Probable cause
The engine's mixture control cable broke due to fatigue at its carburetor attachment fitting.