This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
On descent for landing my Champion Citabria 7ECA’s engine lost all power.
I immediately told tower that I had a priority situation and was experiencing engine failure. I rocked the wings, turned fuel back and forth, put throttle in out, mixture also, along with checking mags, etc.
Engine finally came back to some power and then all power returned.
Continued on for a successful landing at ZZZ. Upon parking aircraft at the hangar had fuel topped off, it took 24 gallons to top. I had 12 gallons remaining.
Checked airplane out with mechanic and found broken mixture control cable as the cause. Cable was completely severed at the carburetor.
Primary Problem: Aircraft
ACN: 1793083
These mixture control cables (and carb heat cables) that look like Auto Zone generic choke cables have got to be inspected at each 100 hours, or at least at each annual inspection. The central wire wears just inside the circumferential wound wire cable housing from vibration. The best way to check it is to pull the central wire out of the housing from the instrument panel. On the C150 and C172, I have found some cable wires worn through over three quarters of its diameter.
Second that. On legacy aircraft, they ARE generic AutoZone style controls. They do need inspection and lubrication, no high-tech Teflon sleeves here! Also, make sure you have a real bug nut (no kludges allowed) on the cable end, with the end folded over at 90 degrees so if the bug nut gets loose, the cable won’t just pull out in your lap (which can get exciting!)