Piper PA32RT N31678 accident near Coral Springs, Florida

Probable cause

The in-flight disconnection of the fuel injection servo throttle linkage, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

NTSB analysis

While the airplane was in cruise flight, the airline transport pilot noticed a drop in manifold pressure; he advanced the throttle to regain power. After several unsuccessful attempts to regain full power, he made a forced landing and the airplane collided with a ditch, which resulted in damage to the right wing spar. Postaccident examination of the throttle body fuel injection servo revealed the throttle cable linkage was loose at the attachment point of the throttle body fuel injection servo.

Further examination revealed the throttle cable linkage had slipped because the gear teeth did not make full contact locking together. Some of the gear teeth on the throttle linkage and on the throttle body servo were worn with flat spots. It is likely that this condition ultimately resulted in the pilot's inability to control the power setting of the engine.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA17LA169 for the full record.