Event Description
While at cruise altitude, the airplane experienced a loss of power after the pilot adjusted the mixture control. The pilot attempted various throttle, mixture, and fuel tank settings in an effort to regain power. As the airplane began losing altitude, the pilot decided to perform a forced landing.
Landing Gear Deployment
While turning toward the chosen field, the airplane's auto-extend landing gear extended. The auto-extend system is designed to deploy the landing gear when airspeed drops below 105 miles per hour; it can be overridden using a switch in the cockpit. Following the gear extension, the airplane experienced a more rapid sink rate, prompting the pilot to select an alternative field. During the descent, the left main landing gear struck a power line. The airplane subsequently landed in a left yaw attitude, with the left main landing gear no longer attached to the airframe.
Investigation Findings
On-scene investigation revealed that the fuel mixture control's mechanical linkage had separated from the flexible cable attached to the mixture control's lever. Additionally, the fuel servo's mechanical mixture control stop for the mixture lever did not exhibit wear marks at the full rich position.