19980712016519A

(.4) After takeoff, the airplane made a climbout over mountainous terrain. After clearing the terrain, the pilot reduced the power and descended into an open valley. Approximately 1,800 feet above the ground level, he advanced the throttle, but did not receive an increase in engine power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to land on a narrow gravel bar next to a river. The main landing gear skimmed over the water and up onto the gravel bar edge. The left main gear sunk into the soft gravel at the waters edge and the aircraft came to rest inverted on the gravel bar. The pilot stated that an annual inspection had been performed 11 days prior to the accident, and the airplane had accumulated 3 flight hours since the inspection. He further reported that when he inspected the throttle cable assembly, following the accident, he noted that it had become detached from the carburetor throttle arm due to a missing bolt, nut, and cotter pin. The FAA was unable to verify that those components were missing as the pilot had repaired and ferried the aircraft to another location. (-23) during flight the pilot experienced a loss of engine power and was forced to make an off airport landing on a sand bar. During landing the landing gear contacted some water and the aircraft came to a rest inverted. Damage to the right wing including a bent spar and lift struts, also damage to cabin structure.