Incident Overview
During the initial climb after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 800 to 900 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. Faced with no options for a straight-ahead landing, the pilot executed a right 180-degree turn in an attempt to return to the departure runway.
Sequence of Events
As the airplane banked during the turn, the right wing contacted the ground, followed by the fuselage. The aircraft then slid across the ground in an upright attitude and struck two parked airplanes that were tied down on the ramp. The collision resulted in damage to all three aircraft.
Post-Accident Examination
A subsequent examination of the accident aircraft revealed that an improper clamp had been installed on the mixture control cable. This clamp prevented the mixture cable from moving to the full rich position, which would have restricted the fuel-air mixture during the critical phases of takeoff and climb.
Conclusion
The investigation determined that the cause of the power loss was the incorrect installation of a clamp on the mixture cable, which limited the cable's travel and prevented the engine from receiving a full rich mixture.