piperforum79
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2017
- Messages
- 96
- Reaction score
- 39
After normal pre-flight and runup, I departed Manteo, NC (MQI) on August 1, 2022. About 50 miles west, engine roughness deveoped and progressively increased, with loss of power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach a landing field, I landed off-field on Highway 64. After removal of wings and trailering back to MQI, we found that the mixture control lever mesh at the fuel controller was worn, abraded, misaligned and slipping. Evidently, vibration ratcheted the control toward lean. Possibly the mixture control lever was not replaced at engine overhaul, or the mesh was not aligned when installed after overhaul. There was no sign of slippage of the lock nut on the mixture control shaft.
