What happened
During a training flight, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure by pulling the throttle to idle. In response to the simulation, the student pilot overshot the final approach and increased the bank angle while attempting to realign the aircraft on final approach.
The instructor reported that his hands were not on the controls at the time of the maneuver. Approximately 75 feet above ground level (AGL), the instructor felt the airplane buffet, at which point he grabbed the controls, leveled the wings, lowered the nose, and attempted to apply full power. However, the engine failed to produce full power, leading to an aerodynamic stall. In an attempt to land with a flat attitude rather than a nose-low attitude, the instructor pulled aft on the control yoke. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground and slid across the runway. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An examination of the engine's carburetor was conducted following the accident. Investigators found that the throttle shaft, throttle shaft bushing and packings, air metering valve, accelerator pump seal, and accelerator pump linkage were all worn.