What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 31, 2025, the pilot of a PA-28 privacy data omitted experienced engine roughness and a partial loss of power while adjusting the mixture during approach to Hot Springs. The pilot reported the power loss to ATC and stated the intention to conduct an off-airport landing. The aircraft landed safely and without injury on a highway on the outskirts of Hot Springs.
On January 2, 2026, FAA inspectors arrived on scene, examined the aircraft, and interviewed the pilot. The examination revealed that the mixture control cable end fitting had become detached from the fuel control. The retaining nut securing the cable end fitting to the fuel control arm was missing, which allowed the mixture control to move freely and prevented positive control of fuel metering from the cockpit. The loss of effective mixture control resulted in engine roughness and reduced power.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 31, 2025, THE PILOT OF A PA-28 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXPERIENCED ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE ADJUSTING THE MIXTURE DURING APPROACH TO HOT SPRINGS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE POWER LOSS TO ATC AND STATED THE INTENTION TO CONDUCT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY AND WITHOUT INJURY ON A HIGHWAY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF HOT SPRINGS.
ON JANUARY 2, 2026, FAA INSPECTORS ARRIVED ON SCENE, EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT, AND INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE END FITTING HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FUEL CONTROL. THE RETAINING NUT SECURING THE CABLE END FITTING TO THE FUEL CONTROL ARM WAS MISSING, WHICH ALLOWED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO MOVE FREELY AND PREVENTED POSITIVE CONTROL OF FUEL METERING FROM THE COCKPIT. THE LOSS OF EFFECTIVE MIXTURE CONTROL RESULTED IN ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND REDUCED POWER.