Flight and Engine Failure
The purpose of the flight was to ferry the airplane to a maintenance facility for examination of the carburetor. During the takeoff climb, at approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to run rough for about 10 seconds before losing total power.
Forced Landing and Impact
The pilot executed a forced landing to the only grass area in the vicinity. During the landing, the airplane struck a gas pipeline.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine revealed that the mixture control wire was not secured to the mixture control arm pivot bolt. This condition was identified as the reason for the loss of engine power.
Maintenance History
A review of the maintenance records showed that the carburetor had been replaced five days prior to the accident. The maintenance entry for that replacement stated: "set idle speed and mixture to specs."