What happened
During the takeoff phase, the pilot reported difficulty starting the engine. Believing the engine was still hot from a previous flight, the pilot pulled the mixture control to the lean position, which eventually allowed the engine to start. The pilot then returned the mixture control to the rich position. Following a successful engine run-up with no abnormalities noted, the aircraft departed.
At approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft toward an open field and cycled both the throttle and the mixture control. Although the engine restarted momentarily, it lost power again. The pilot performed a landing in an open field, during which the aircraft struck several fences. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the engine was conducted by a local Inspection Authorization mechanic. The investigation revealed that the retaining nut and washer on the mixture cable attach bolt were missing. Upon operating the mixture cable, the mechanic observed that the lever on the carburetor did not move stop-to-stop. Furthermore, when operating the mixture control from the cockpit, the lever on the carburetor slipped and failed to maintain its preset position relative to the mixture cable. No other mechanical failures or malfunctions capable of preventing engine operation were identified. The aircraft had undergone an annual inspection approximately 27 hours before the accident.