On February 17, 2022, about 1448 central standard time, a Pitt S-1T, N731FL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Spring, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that, after departure from DWH, he noticed that engine power was not responding to throttle movements. The pilot turned back toward DWH and entered a left downwind leg to runway 35L. During the base turn and after turning off the engine ignition switch, the pilot executed a forced landing. Due to a higher-than-anticipated headwind, the pilot misjudged the flight profile, and the airplane landed before reaching runway 35L. The airplane impacted instrument landing system structures, which substantially damaged both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.

Postaccident examination revealed that the throttle cable was disconnected from the throttle lever arm at the fuel injector/control, and a loose washer was found at the bottom of the engine cowling. Proper installation of the throttle lever included a bolt, two washers, a castellated nut, and a cotter pin. The bolt, castellated nut, and cotter pin were not located.

During the airplane’s last annual inspection, the engine fuel nozzles, fuel injector, and flow divider were removed for overhaul and were then reinstalled. During this maintenance, the throttle cable would have been disconnected, and it should have been reconnected once the maintenance was completed. After the annual inspection, no maintenance actions were recorded or reported that would have required the throttle cable to be disconnected.