What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)While on a swath run the engine suffered a loss of power. The pilot said that at 80 feet he was unable to avoid unsuitable terrain in his initiating a forced landing. After the accident it was found that a cotter pin had been left out of the throttle control during maintenance earlier on the day of the accident. A mechanic who had done the maintenance stated, 'I had it apart, and I think I just didn't safety it.' (-23) first flight after throttle and mixture controls reconnected during maintenance. Aerial application. Lost power in turn on pull-up, at the end of the field. Unable to re-start engine. Secured fuel and mags. Tightened seat belt/helmet and landed straight ahead. Aircraft moved without ntsb's permission. Upon examination, throttle cable was not connected to throttle lever or carburetor.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)WHILE ON A SWATH RUN THE ENGINE SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT SAID THAT AT 80 FEET HE WAS UNABLE TO AVOID UNSUITABLE TERRAIN IN HIS INITIATING A FORCED LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT IT WAS FOUND THAT A COTTER PIN HAD BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL DURING MAINTENANCE EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC WHO HAD DONE THE MAINTENANCE STATED, 'I HAD IT APART, AND I THINK I JUST DIDN'T SAFETY IT.' (-23) FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS RECONNECTED DURING MAINTENANCE. AERIAL APPLICATION. LOST POWER IN TURN ON PULL-UP, AT THE END OF THE FIELD. UNABLE TO RE-START ENGINE. SECURED FUEL AND MAGS. TIGHTENED SEAT BELT/HELMET AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD. AIRCRAFT MOVED WITHOUT NTSB'S PERMISSION. UPON EXAMINATION, THROTTLE CABLE WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THROTTLE LEVER OR CARBURETOR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N9957J · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.