Summary
On January 22, 2009, a Cessna 172M (N20275) was involved in an incident near Little Rock, AR. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The loss of engine power due to the missing nut on the bolt connecting the throttle cable and carburetor's lever arm.
The pilot stated that as he started his descent and reduced engine power, he felt a "bump" in the throttle. The engine's rpm dropped and the engine lost power. The pilot established his glide and elected to conduct a forced landing to a nearby airport. Additionally, the pilot reported that moving the throttle had no effect on engine power, however the engine would oscillate between idle and full power. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the site reported that the nut securing the throttle linkage to the carburetor's control lever was missing and the throttle linkage was found disconnected.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN09CA140. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N20275.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The loss of engine power due to the missing nut on the bolt connecting the throttle cable and carburetor's lever arm.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot stated that as he started his descent and reduced engine power, he felt a "bump" in the throttle. The engine's rpm dropped and the engine lost power. The pilot established his glide and elected to conduct a forced landing to a nearby airport. Additionally, the pilot reported that moving the throttle had no effect on engine power, however the engine would oscillate between idle and full power. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the site reported that the nut securing the throttle linkage to the carburetor's control lever was missing and the throttle linkage was found disconnected. A review of the manufacturer's maintenance manual revealed the approved parts included a bolt with a fiber-locking nut.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN09CA140