What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Upon takeoff from Rifle, Colorado, an undiscovered issue with the engine caused it to operate only at max power of flight idle. Pilot decided to return to land at Rifle, CO. As pilot manuevered to land alternating between flight idle and max power to control engine RPM and allow his descent, after putting gear and flaps down he realized he was getting low, put max power in but got no response. Aircraft struck the ground hitting the tail first, then the main landing gear, followed by the nosewheel. The nosewheel then dug into the ground and the momentum caused the aircraft to flip over. Post impact examination of the engine showed a dislodged power cable pulled from the swedge area in the linkage. It is unknown whether this was caused by the impact or a causal factor in the accident. The NTSB has sent the parts out for further examination.
As the FAA filed it
UPON TAKEOFF FROM RIFLE, COLORADO, AN UNDISCOVERED ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CAUSED IT TO OPERATE ONLY AT MAX POWER OF FLIGHT IDLE. PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO LAND AT RIFLE, CO. AS PILOT MANUEVERED TO LAND ALTERNATING BETWEEN FLIGHT IDLE AND MAX POWER TO CONTROL ENGINE RPM AND ALLOW HIS DESCENT, AFTER PUTTING GEAR AND FLAPS DOWN HE REALIZED HE WAS GETTING LOW, PUT MAX POWER IN BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND HITTING THE TAIL FIRST, THEN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSEWHEEL. THE NOSEWHEEL THEN DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE MOMENTUM CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER. POST IMPACT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED A DISLODGED POWER CABLE PULLED FROM THE SWEDGE AREA IN THE LINKAGE. IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE IMPACT OR A CAUSAL FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE NTSB HAS SENT THE PARTS OUT FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.