Amateur-built Vari Eze N644VZ accident near Arlington, Washington

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

While the amateur-built airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the pilot advanced the throttle forward. The engine did not respond and subsequently lost power. The pilot decided to land in a field below and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. According to the pilot, the engine had a history of losing power as a result of air entering the fuel system. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and stated that postaccident manipulation of the cockpit throttle control revealed that the throttle cable outer housing would slip out of the throttle quadrant and as a consequence the throttle arm on the engine fuel body would not move. It could not be determined if this discrepancy was a result of the impact. No evidence of any other mechanical discrepancies were noted with the engine.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for LAX08LA161 for the full record.