This May 2008 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Bellanca 14-13-A. Injuries: None. Location: Marcos, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was on a cross-country flight at an altitude of 2,000 feet AGL. When he was within five miles of his destination airport, he reduced the throttle to initiate a descent. The engine lost more power than he wanted it to. He attempted to restore power but was unsuccessful. He attempted to make it to his destination airport but landed in an open field short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing main spar. Upon investigation of the engine it was discovered that the throttle cable clevis swag failed at the cable housing and throttle control was no longer available.
Probable cause: The failure of the throttle cable clevis swag.
For more information: NTSB.gov
