What happened
During the downwind leg of the approach, the pilot extended the landing gear. Upon deployment, the engine began to run roughly, and the pilot observed that the landing gear had stopped approximately halfway through its extension. An attempt to increase power was unsuccessful, as there was no corresponding increase in engine output. Consequently, the pilot prepared for an emergency landing. During the descent, the aircraft collided with trees and completed a hard landing in an open dirt field.
The investigation
A visual external examination of the engine was conducted following the accident. Investigators discovered that the mixture cable had become entangled in the nose landing gear. When the gear was lowered, the movement pulled the mixture cable out of its sleeve, which resulted in the engine being set to a full lean position.
Further investigation into the aircraft's maintenance history revealed that the mixture, throttle, and propeller cables had been recently installed by the pilot and two partners. These individuals were not certified A&P mechanics, and no certified mechanic had performed a return-to-service inspection following the installation. Additionally, the aircraft logbook had not been updated for six months prior to the accident.