CEN16LA313

The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight. About 15 minutes into the flight, the engine power suddenly decreased to idle, and the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. The airplane impacted a small stand of trees before coming to rest, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and right wing strut. Examination of the engine revealed that the engine-to-carburetor throttle cable was disconnected. No impact damage was found in the area of the throttle cable disconnect. It is likely that the fastener that connected the throttle cable to the carburetor loosened and fell out during the flight, causing the engine to go to the idle power setting. The fastener was not found, and maintenance logbooks or records were not recovered.

On August 5, 2016, about 0745 eastern daylight time, an Liming Louis L HPL-1 experimental airplane, N9095U, registered to the pilot/owner, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near Mt. Orab, Ohio. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at 0730 from the Brown County Airport (GEO), Georgetown, Ohio. After takeoff from GEO, the pilot flew to the north for about 9 miles and began circling a private residence at 1,500 feet AGL. Suddenly, the engine power went to idle. The pilot checked to make sure that he had not bumped the idle control with his left knee and attempted to increase the engine RPM. The engine RPM did not increase and the pilot chose a grassy field to land, while the engine remained at idle. Upon initial touchdown in the rough vegetated field, the airplane's speed was relatively high. The airplane became airborne and the left wing struck a small stand of trees. The airplane then spun around about 360 degrees and struck the ground before coming to a stop. Substantial damage was incurred to the left wing and right wing strut. The pilot exited without injury. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the engine throttle cable had become disconnected from the carburetor during the flight, which is consistent with the pilot report of the engine going to idle power. There was no impact damage found in the area near the disconnected throttle cable. No maintenance logbooks or records were recovered.