Cessna 172N N42EP accident near Long Beach, California

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power during initial climb due to debris within the carburetor mixture metering sleeve.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, following a touch-and-go landing, he began a normal climb. Shortly after, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to the remaining runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and then came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed pliable debris, similar to silicone, within the carburetor mixture metering sleeve, which would have restricted the fuel flow and produced a lean fuel-air mixture and resulted in the loss of engine power. The source of the debris could not be determined. No additional evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure was found that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR13LA402 for the full record.